On the afternoon of April 21, a grand celebration to mark opening of the new XJTU-University of Nebraska American Exchange Center was held in the Yifu Foreign Language Building. In attendance were XJTU President Zheng Nanning, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Chancellor Harvey Perlman, XJTU Deputy Party Secretary Gong Hui and the members of a delegation from the University of Nebraska. XJTU Vice President Song Xiaoping presided over the event.

President Zheng Nanning said that XJTU and the University of Nebraska were important international partners. The two parties have already joined together to establish the Confucius Institute of University of Nebraska- Lincoln and have collaborated in a number of fields, including engineering and medicine. The opening of the new exchange center marks a new page in the cooperative relationship between the two universities.

Chancellor Perlman reviewed the history of the partnership and said that he expected that the two institutions would continue to extend their cooperation in research, education and in teaching and art and culture.

President Zheng Nanning and Chancellor Perlman unveiled a plaque commemorating the establishment of the center. Later, Chinese and American students presented a series of art performances.