On March 19, 2025, Ding Aijun, Assistant President of Nanjing University met with Jon Frampton, Vice President for China Affairs at the University of Birmingham (UoB), and his delegation on Xianlin campus. Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on cooperation in fields such as climate change, Shakespeare studies, and medicine.
Ding Aijun extended a warm welcome to the guests. He reviewed the successful collaboration between NJU and UoB on projects like the Shakespeare (China) Center and emphasized recent advancements in scientific research, talent development, the construction of the Suzhou campus, and international initiatives of NJU. Ding emphasized that NJU would continue to promote multi-field cooperation with UoB, deepening practical and mutually beneficial exchanges.
Frampton introduced UoB's cooperation with China, highlighting the institution's significant advantages in research and international perspectives. He stated that the university is committed to promoting global academic exchange and cooperation. He specifically mentioned that Birmingham and Nanjing are sister cities, and UoB hopes to further strengthen its cooperation with NJU, expand the scope of exchanges, and plans to jointly establish an "Education and Research Center of Climate Change" to promote interdisciplinary research and talent training, contributing knowledge and efforts to address global challenges such as climate change.
Both sides exchanged views on specific cooperation initiatives. In the field of humanities and social sciences, the two universities will use Shakespeare studies as a bridge to promote the development of literature and the creative industries, enhancing the impact of academic research while fostering cultural integration and innovation between China and the UK, and enhancing global cultural understanding and mutual learning. Furthermore, in the context of rapid advancements in global public health and medical technology, the two universities will strengthen international cooperation in the medical field through joint research projects and high-level conferences.
This meeting marks significant progress in the practical cooperation between the two universities. In the future, the two sides will deepen cooperation through administrative and scholarly visits, and seek development of strategic partnership. During the visit, the delegation also went to the NJU Medical School, where they engaged in in-depth discussions regarding joint research and educational cooperation.
Representatives from the Institute for Advanced Studies in Humanities and Social Sciences "Shakespeare (China) Center", International Affairs Office, and the School of Atmospheric Sciences also attended the meeting.
