On 17 March 2011 distinguished scholar and former President of Peking University (1999-2008) Professor Xu Zhihong revisited the Peking University - Griffith University Research and Learning Centre, five years since its official opening in the heart of Griffith’s Nathan campus, in 2006.
The initiative has been an overwhelming success for both institutions.
“The Peking University - Griffith University Research and Learning Centre has been particularly successful for the development of a range of collaborative activities in many fields of education priority, and complements Griffith’s strengths and leadership in the Asia Pacific region,” said Professor Ian O’Connor, Vice Chancellor and President, Griffith University.
It was the foundation for the recent MoU involving the Griffith Asia Institute (GAI), Peking University and the Queensland State Government to establish a future orientated partnership between Australia and China titled Australia China Futures Dialogues.
“The current initiatives we share with this prestigious institution would not have been possible without the support and encouragement of Professor Xu; in the establishment of our partnership and for its prospective mutual value”, said Professor O’Connor.
President of Peking University (1999-2008) Professor Xu Zhihong and Prof Ian O'Connor, Griffith University Vice Chancellor and President.
The Dialogues incorporate three yearly events: an Annual Leader’s Lecture, Second Track Dialogue and an Emerging Leaders Dialogue and brings together leaders and emerging leaders to discuss issues of importance to the Asia Pacific region.
Professor Xu was named the “National Outstanding Young and Middle-Aged Specialist” in 1988.
He was awarded the “First Prize of the Natural Science of Chinese Academy of Sciences Award” in 1990 and the “Third Prize of National Natural Science Award” in the following year.
Xu was conferred the Honorary Professor by Hong Kong University in 1994 and later awarded the position of Honorary Doctor of Science by De Montfort University, followed by Nottingham University (2000) and University of East Anglia (2008) in the U.K., Hong Kong City University (2001), Wasada University in Japan (2002), McGill University in Canada (2003) and La Trobe University in Australia (2007), the Honorary Doctor of Law by Melbourne University in Australia (2003) and Honorary Doctor by University of Montreal
2 International relations (2004) in Canada, University of Edinburgh(2008) in the U.K. and University College Dublin in Ireland (2008).
Most recently Professor Xu was elected President of International Association for Plant Tissue Culture and Biotechnology (2002-2006) and is now Chairman of the Chinese National Committee of Man and of Biosphere, UNESCO and Chairman of the Chinese Society of Plant Biology.
“It is marvelous to welcome Professor Xu back to Queensland and to the Nathan campus and to reflect on the vast contributions he has made, not only to building excellent relations with our university, but between the two nations as significant partners in education and research development,” said Professor O’Connor.
Article produced by Griffith International Relations, Phone +61 07 5552 9095, Email: internationalrelations@griffith.edu.au