From May 29 to June 2, 2023, Li Yansong, President of Shanghai International Studies University (SISU), led a delegation to visit Japan and South Korea, exchanging views on educational and scientific research cooperation with renowned universities like Osaka University, Osaka Sangyo University, Sophia University, Waseda University, Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Korea University, and Ewha Womans University, as well as attended the first board meeting in 2023 of the Confucius Institute (CI) at Sangyo University.
On May 29, the delegation visited Osaka Sangyo University. Masato Kitamae, the school juridical person, attended the reception. The two sides agreed on further deepening exchanges and cooperation in the future. Subsequently, at the first board meeting in 2023 of the CI at Osaka Sangyo University, Li considered the institute’s personnel changes and final accounts report of last year. At the meeting, the two universities also reached an agreement on continuous cooperation in furthering the development of the CI. The delegation also communicated with the Chinese teachers and students of the CI.
On the same day, the delegation went to Osaka University and held talks with Professor Takemura Keiko, Dean of the School of Foreign Studies, and Professor Komizo Yu-ichi, Director of the Center for East Asian Academic Research. Together, they reviewed the exchanges between the two universities and reached a consensus about the renewal of the agreement regarding student exchanges.
During their stay in Tokyo, the delegation visited Sophia University, Waseda University, and Tokyo University of Foreign Studies, holding talks with Irohara Takashi, Vice President of Sophia University, Gemma Masahiko, Vice President of Waseda University, and Hayashi Kayoko, President of Tokyo University of Foreign Studies. Li had in-depth discussions and exchanges with these universities on the continued pragmatic cooperation in areas such as faculty exchanges, student exchanges, collaborative scientific research, and joint organization of academic seminars. The universities on both sides unanimously agreed to continue strengthening educational exchanges and cooperation, with the aim of promoting the high-quality development of international educational communication.
Afterward, the delegation visited Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, Korea University, and Ewha Womans University. They were received by Jeong-Woon Park, President of Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, WonGyu Lee, Provost and Executive Vice President of Korea University, and Kim Eun-mee, President of Ewha Womans University. Li had in-depth exchanges with these universities on cutting-edge interdisciplinary construction in the fields of foreign languages and literature studies, artificial intelligence, data science, natural science, etc. They also discussed developments regarding international relations and area studies, and negotiated on organizing cooperative education projects as well as joint summer programs.
This visit of the SISU delegation to Japan and South Korea not only consolidated and deepened the collaboration with the partner universities in Japan and South Korea, but also made important progress in international cooperation of area studies and cutting-edge interdisciplinary construction. Members of the delegation included Feng Hui, director of the Office of Confucius Institute, Cheng Tong, dean of the School of Asian and African Studies, Gao Jie, dean of the School of Japanese Studies, Ma Sang, deputy director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, and Jin Huiting, chair of the Department of Korean.
