Zhejiang University Delegation, Led by Vice President Wang Lizhong, Visits Japan
From August 21 to 24, WANG Lizhong, vice president of Zhejiang University, led a delegation to Japan. Their mission was to foster connections with partner universities and research institutions, including the Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), the University of Tokyo, Nagoya University, Waseda University, and Fuji Electric Co. Ltd. In addition to these academic endeavors, the delegation paid a courtesy visit to the minister-counselor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Japan.
The delegation’s journey commenced on August 21, with Shigeo Morimoto, director of JST, extending a warm welcome to WANG Lizhong and his delegation. This reunion marked a heartfelt reconnection after three years of the pandemic. Morimoto expressed his delight and envisioned cooperation between JST and Zhejiang University through initiatives like Sakura Science Exchange Program, the China-Japan University Fair & Forum, and Innovation JAPAN, among others. WANG Lizhong highlighted Zhejiang University’s steadfast commitment to scientific and technological exchanges with Japanese counterparts.
A notable highlight of their trip was their attendance at Innovation JAPAN, a premier event that serves as the nexus of industry-academia collaboration in Japan. This annual gathering showcases cutting-edge technologies primed for industrialization, bridging the gap between research institutions and the market, and propelling the industrialization of leading technologies in various scientific fields.
On August 22, Nagoya University and the Aichi Prefecture government extended a warm welcome to the delegation. Norimi Mizutani, vice president of Nagoya University, introduced the university’s latest research advancements, with a particular emphasis on its support for technological innovation, technology transfer, and student entrepreneurship. Masaaki Shibayama from the Aichi Prefecture Bureau of Economy, Trade and Industry unveiled the thriving cooperation model between the Aichi Prefecture government and Nagoya University, aimed at cultivating a unique entrepreneurial ecosystem. Masaaki Shibayama expressed Aichi Prefecture’s eagerness to enhance cooperation with Zhejiang University, offering faculty and students alike overseas entrepreneurship and policy support. WANG Lizhong expressed great admiration for the culture of innovation and entrepreneurship at Nagoya University and in Aichi Prefecture. He also extended an invitation to the participants of the “Zhejiang University-Aichi China Innovation Program” to experience China’s passion for innovation and entrepreneurship.
August 22 also witnessed an in-depth discussion between WANG Lizhong and Nobuhito Saito, executive vice president of the University of Tokyo. The discussion centered on deepening collaboration in fields such as oceanography, materials science, and medicine.Nobuhito Saito acknowledged Zhejiang University as a strategic partner and expressed a desire to expand cooperation into broader realms, including sustainable development.
On the morning of August 23, WANG Lizhong engaged in fruitful talks with Yoshihiro Watanabe, vice president of Waseda University. Discussions ranged from existing cooperation programs in humanities and social sciences to the prospect of interdisciplinary exchanges in various domains. Yoshihiro Watanabe underlined the historical bonds between Waseda University and China, particularly with Zhejiang University. He pledged strong support for top-notch collaborative projects spanning areas like domestic robotics, marine microorganisms, and smart grids.
On the afternoon of August 23, WANG Lizhong, in his capacity as vice chairman of the Zhejiang University-Fuji Electric Cooperation Center, visited the headquarters of Fuji Electric. Collaborative discussions with Shiro Kondo, president and COO of Fuji Electric, harked back to two decades of successful cooperation. Both sides explored the potential for deeper collaboration. WANG Lizhong congratulated Fuji Electric on its 100th anniversary and stressed the mutual benefits of intensified partnership.
On the morning of August 24, Minister Counsellor DU Kewei received Wang Lizhong and the delegation. He provided an overview of Sino-Japanese educational and cultural exchanges and praised Zhejiang University’s significant contributions to talent cultivation and research cooperation between China and Japan. Moreover, he wholeheartedly endorsed Zhejiang University’s cooperation with Japanese universities and research institutions.
This visit served as a platform for the delegation to share experiences and fortify bonds with Japan’s top universities and research institutions. Their efforts sought to explore novel models of international exchange and cooperation in a rapidly evolving era, resulting in consensus and laying a robust foundation for enhanced bilateral exchanges.