From May 8 to 13, 2015, Mr. CAO Guoyong, Chairman of the University Council, was invited to lead a delegation to visit the universities in Russia and U.K. and held talks and signed fruitful agreements with the leaders of the Moscow State University of Railway Engineering, Saint Petersburg State Transport University in Russia and Lancaster University and the University of Westminster in U.K. Principals from the School of Computer and Information Technology, School of Economics and Management, School of Traffic and Transportation, Office of Academic Affairs and Office of International Affairs were also present at the meeting.







At the Moscow State University of Railway Engineering, on behalf of Beijing Jiaotong University and witnessed by Deputy Minister of Transport of the Russian Federation, Mr. CAO Guoyong signed the cooperative agreement on the joint establishment of the “China-Russia High-speed Railway Research Center” with the Moscow State University of Railway Engineering. First, CAO expressed gratitude to the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation for the full support of the exchange and cooperation between BJTU and Russian transport universities. He said the Research Center established by the three parties would provide strong talent and technical support for the bilateral cooperation on high-speed railway. Then the Deputy Minister spoke highly of the achievements the three universities have made on transport and added that the cooperation was of great significance on the occasion of commemorating the 70th anniversary of the world’s anti-Fascism War. After the signing ceremony, the delegation visited the laboratory of the Moscow State University of Railway Engineering. During the visit, CAO also exchanged views with the Ministry of Transport of the Russian Federation and Saint Petersburg State Transport University on the future work of the Russia-China Jiaotong Institute.





At Lancaster University, CAO Guoyong held talks with Prof. Andrew Atherton, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University and signed the MoU between the two universities. Both sides decided to introduce the high-quality educational resources of Lancaster University to establish the Joint Institute at Weihai Campus. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on the school-running scale, scope, form, connecting schools and departments and scientific collaboration so as to initiate the submitting work of the Joint Institute as soon as possible. Afterwards, the delegation also visited the teaching facilities of Lancaster University and conducted in-depth discussions with principals from the Faculty of Management, School of Computing and Communications and Lancaster Environment Centre on talent cultivation and scientific research.





At the University of Westminster, CAO Guoyong held talks with Prof. Geoffrey E. Petts, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Westminster. CAO expressed gratitude to the University for the great support and help during our middle-level cadre training group studying at the Univeristy. He hoped that both sides would further enhance exchange and cooperation on mass media, language, art and design. Then Prof. Geoffrey E. Petts introduced the basic facts and global integration strategy of the University. He hoped that both sides would conduct all-round collaboration of common interest. Also, the delegation visited the first British cinema built by the University of Westminster and held talks with principals from the Faculty of Media, Arts and Design, Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities and Westminster Business School.

During the visit, Mr. CAO Guoyong also met with SHEN Yang, Minister Councilor (Education) of the Chinese Embassy in U.K., and exchanged views on the development of British higher education and internationalization reform of China’s higher education.

This visit has promoted our strategic partnership with two Russian transport universities, especially on high-speed railway research, and laid solid foundations for the strategic development of Weihai Campus and further collaboration with British universities on talent cultivation and scientific research.