On the morning of December 10, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) welcomed a delegation from the Consulate General of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) in Guangzhou. The delegation, led by Consul General Mariam Alshamsi, was warmly received by SUSTech President Qikun XUE.

President XUE extended a sincere welcome to the delegation and reviewed the strategic partnership between China and the UAE, as well as the history of friendly exchanges between SUSTech and UAE institutions. He provided an overview of the university’s latest progress in international development and scientific research, emphasizing SUSTech’s commitment to expanding student exchange and joint training programs. President XUE specifically expressed a warm welcome for more Emirati students to study at SUSTech and proposed establishing joint laboratories to deepen research collaboration.

Consul General Mariam Alshamsi commended SUSTech for its remarkable achievements in a relatively short period. She highlighted the robust high-level exchanges and strong economic and trade ties between the two nations, while noting that educational cooperation still holds significant potential for growth. She mentioned that approximately 150 Emirati students are currently studying in China, primarily in Beijing and Shanghai. With Chinese designated as a third priority language in the UAE alongside Arabic and English, 72 schools across the country now offer Chinese language courses. The Consul General expressed keen interest in enhancing cooperation through student and faculty exchanges and joint research initiatives. Furthermore, she suggested organizing reciprocal youth delegation visits to improve mutual understanding of industrial and technological landscapes and invited SUSTech to participate in major higher education conferences and technology forums in the UAE.

During the discussion, both sides engaged in in-depth exchanges on topics including English-taught programs, differences in mathematics and science education systems, and potential areas for future collaboration. The meeting concluded with shared optimism about strengthening educational and scientific partnerships between SUSTech and institutions in the United Arab Emirates.

Attending from SUSTech were Prof. Xiaoying TANG, Associate Dean of the Graduate School and Professor of Electrical and Electronic Engineering; Dr. Hao CHEN, Executive Deputy Director of SUSTech Global; and Ms. Chuji YUE from the Office of Research.