EUI Delegation Visits GDUFS

On May 18, Professor George Papaconstantinou of the European University Institute (EUI) led a delegation from the EUI Global Executive Master programme to Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS) for academic exchanges. Shi Youqi, Secretary of the Party Committee of GDUFS, met with the guests at the Baiyun Mountain Campus. The two sides held in-depth discussions on further strengthening inter-university cooperation and jointly cultivating talent in international governance.

Highlight from the Meeting

Secretary Shi extended a warm welcome to the EUI delegation. He noted that GDUFS is a high-level university with major development support in Guangdong Province and is distinguished by its strong international orientation. It serves as an important hub in South China for cultivating internationally minded talent and advancing research in global governance and the rule of law in foreign-related affairs. The university offers 76 undergraduate programmes and instruction in 33 foreign languages, and has established partnerships with 523 universities and institutions across 70 countries and regions. It has also established the School of International Governance Innovation to cultivate high-level interdisciplinary professionals who are well versed in international rules and capable of participating in global governance. Reflecting on the decade-long partnership between the two institutions, Shi noted that cooperation began with academic exchanges and mutual visits and has gradually expanded to include joint teaching and research platforms as well as the joint cultivation of talent in international governance. Since the signing of a Comprehensive Cooperation Framework Agreement in 2023, exchanges between the two universities have become increasingly frequent, yielding fruitful outcomes. He spoke highly of the EUI Global Executive Master programme, noting that its participants possess broad international perspectives and extensive professional experience. He said the study tour focusing on China’s economic development and opening-up provided an excellent platform for strengthening friendship and mutual learning between the two institutions. He expressed the hope that the visit would serve as an opportunity to further expand cooperation in areas such as international economic governance, international meteorological governance, and artificial intelligence (AI) governance.

Professor Papaconstantinou expressed his sincere appreciation for the warm hospitality extended by GDUFS. He remarked that the two institutions had built a genuine and strong partnership over the past decade, and that choosing GDUFS as the first stop of the programme’s China study tour reflected the mutual trust and commitment developed through years of cooperation. He explained that the programme, offered through the Florence School of Transnational Governance, is designed to equip experienced policy professionals from around the world with analytical tools and a global perspective to navigate an increasingly complex international environment. He stressed that understanding today’s world requires understanding China, and that understanding China cannot be achieved from afar; it requires first-hand observation and engagement. He expressed his hope that the visit would further strengthen the friendship between the two institutions and elevate their cooperation to a new level through in-depth research and practical exchanges.

Group Photo

Representatives from the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, the School of International Governance Innovation, and other relevant units attended the meeting.