The year 2021 marks the 50
th
anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations
between the People’s Republic of China and Belgium and the 15
th
anniversary of China
Platform of Ghent University. On this special occasion, China Platform held the first edition
of its academic forum. The forum took place from September 13
th
to 17
th
with 8 webinars,
which were organized by Ghent University and the following 8 Chinese universities:
Tsinghua University, Shandong University, Xi’an Jiaotong University, Yunnan University,
Jinan University, Qufu Normal University, and Beijing University of Agriculture. Our alumni
in these universities also played a crucial part in organization by acting as bridges between
Ghent University and its Chines partners.
Dr. Rik Van de Walle, Rector of Ghent University sent a video message which was
played in each webinar. Mr. Wang Shuguo, President of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Mr. Lv
Peiming, Vice-President of Tongji University and Ms. Guo Xiaolin, Chinese Counsellor for
Science and Technology Affairs (Embassy of Belgium) also attended the forum and gav
their speech. More than 80 researchers showed their latest academic progress and at least 300
professors and students attended the forum. On September 17
th
, the first edition of China
Platform Academic Forum was successfully concluded in the Residence of the Belgian
Ambassador to China in Beijing with a video message by Professor Luc Taerwe, former
Dean of Ghent University's School of Engineering and Architecture and Director of the China
Platform.
Through this forum, the fruitful achievements of academic cooperation between Ghent
University and its Chinese partners were put in the spotlight. The forum also provided a
platform for communication in education and research and laid a good foundation for further
cooperation between Ghent University and their China.
