On the morning of May 11, 2026, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) warmly welcomed a distinguished delegation led by H.E. Tomás Azevedo, Consul General of Portugal in Guangzhou, together with faculty and student representatives from the University Institute of Lisbon (ISCTE). They were warmly received by Prof. Li JIN, Vice President of SUSTech, along with other representatives.

In his opening remarks, Consul General Tomás Azevedo noted that Portugal and China enjoy a long-standing friendship, and academic exchange and cooperation stand as a key pillar of bilateral relations. He highlighted the visit by Prof. Maria de Lurdes Rodrigues, Rector of ISCTE, to the Consulate General in Guangzhou and SUSTech this January, stating that the current delegation marked the first step in implementing the bilateral cooperation. He added that the visit will further advance student-faculty exchanges and joint research between the two universities, supporting the growth of young talent from both countries. He commended SUSTech for its high-quality development and remarkable achievements, and wished the students a rewarding experience during their stay in Shenzhen.

On behalf of SUSTech, Vice President Li JIN extended a warm welcome to the Consul General and the delegation. He expressed gratitude to the Consul General Tomás Azevedo for his gracious attendance and also to the Chinese Embassy in Portugal for strong support in making this visit possible. He stated that, as the first faculty and student delegation to visit SUSTech after the leadership’s visits from both sides and the signing of the university-level cooperation agreement, this visit represents a substantial achievement as bilateral cooperation moves from framework to implementation. After extensive coordination and joint efforts, the in-person visit finally took place, underscoring the precious value of international exchange and people-to-people bonds. He expressed the hope that this visit would serve as a new opportunity to deepen practical cooperation in academic research, student exchange, and talent cooperation, yielding more fruitful outcomes for higher education collaboration between China and Portugal.

Prof. Sebastião Pedro, head of the ISCTE delegation, thanked the Consul General for his support and SUSTech for the warm hospitality. He noted that ISCTE boasts distinctive strengths in technology and innovation, sharing a highly compatible vision for innovation with SUSTech. He expressed the hope that this visit would mark a new starting point to expand cooperation in faculty-student exchanges and joint research, and sincerely welcomed SUSTech faculty and students to visit ISCTE in Lisbon.

During the discussion, Dr. Hao CHEN, Executive Deputy Director of SUSTech Global, introduced SUSTech’s distinctive initiatives in educational development and the cultivation of globally competent talents. Prof. Zhaoyuan MA from the College of Engineering delivered a research presentation titled “The Moon Factory,” and engaged in lively and in-depth discussions with the visitors on ecological environment, energy, computing power demand, and embodied AI engineering robots.

The delegation was also guided on a tour of the campus and SUSTech’s exhibition hall to experience SUSTech’s natural scenery and cultural vitality. During the coming week, the delegation will attend a series of academic lectures and student interaction activities in SUSTech and visit high-tech enterprises in Shenzhen to experience the city’s innovation-driven dynamism and the vitality of the Greater Bay Area.