Yang Lin (R), Party secretary of Yunnan University (YNU), speaks with John McCallum, Canadian ambassador to China, at a meeting held on Dec 3, 2018. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

A delegation led by John McCallum, Canadian ambassador to China, visited Yunnan University (YNU), on Dec 3, 2018. 

Yang Lin, Party secretary of YNU; Zhang Li, vice-president of YNU, and other representatives met with the delegation. 

At the meeting, Yang began his remarks with a warm welcome to the delegation before briefing  them on the links YNU has forged with Columbia University, Victoria University, the University of Windsor and the University of Waterloo in Canada. He went on to praise Canada’s support for the academic partnership.

In China, we have had plenty of support from the Canadian embassy in Beijing and Canada’s consulate in Chongqing, he added, mentioning the visits of two former Canadian ambassadors to the country –– Joseph Caron and Guy Saint-Jacques. 

For his part, McCallum expressed his thanks for the hospitality shown by YNU, and his appreciation for YNU’s profound historical and cultural background. He highlighted the achievements YNU has made in promoting ties with Canadian universities. 

He also extended his congratulations to the Kunming-based university on being listed as a Double First-rate institute, promising continued support off Canadian diplomats in China. 

Following the meeting, the delegation toured the extensive university campus in the company of YNU representatives. 

John McCallum was a professor of economics at the University of Manitoba from 1976 until 1978, Simon Fraser University from 1978 until 1982, the Université du Québec à Montréal from 1982 until 1987, and McGill University from 1987 until 1994. 

He is an honorary member of the Royal Military College of Canada. He was also dean of the Faculty of Arts at McGill University. He then became senior vice-president and chief economist of the Royal Bank of Canada.

John McCallum (second from left), Canadian ambassador to China, visits Yunnan University. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

McCallum talks to YNU teachers and students. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]