Delegation Led by Consul General of Italy in Guangzhou Visits GDUFS

On the morning of October 21, Carlo Sanfilippo, Consul General of Italy in Guangzhou, led a delegation to Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS). Shi Youqi, Secretary of the Party Committee of GDUFS, met with the delegation in the VIP Hall of the Administration Building of the Baiyun Mountain Campus. The two sides exchanged views on deepening educational cooperation and advancing China‑Italy educational and cultural exchanges.

Highlight from the Meeting

Secretary Shi extended a warm welcome to Sanfilippo and his delegation and congratulated him on assuming his post as Consul General of Italy in Guangzhou. He provided an overview of GDUFS and emphasized the achievements of its Italian program along with its partnerships and exchanges with Italian higher education institutions. He noted that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Italy and the Consulate General of Italy in Guangzhou have long offered strong support to the development of the Italian program at GDUFS, providing valuable assistance in faculty support, cultural exchanges, student internships and teaching material development. The Italian Language Week, which has been held at GDUFS for several years, is well received by faculty and students. As a key international cultural brand event of the university, it has played a positive role in promoting the dissemination of Italian and Chinese languages and cultures as well as exchanges among young people. Besides, he remarked that GDUFS cherishes its long-standing partnership with the Consulate General of Italy in Guangzhou. He also looked forward to further deepening cooperation and working hand in hand to make new contributions to China-Italy educational and cultural exchanges and people-to-people connectivity, and wished the 26th Italian Language Week every success.

Consul General Sanfilippo expressed his gratitude for GDUFS’s warm reception. He noted that since taking office, he has gained a keen appreciation of the importance of the close partnership between the Consulate General in Guangzhou and universities. He pointed out that GDUFS occupies an important position in exchanges between China and foreign countries, particularly in fostering mutual understanding between Italy and China, and that the academic cooperation programs run by the university serve as a crucial pillar of Italy-China relations. He remarked that the Consulate General would maintain close cooperation with GDUFS, help forge partnerships between more Italian universities and GDUFS to create more exchange opportunities for faculty and students, and prioritize practical cooperation in areas such as cultural exchange, language education and the cultivation of international talent.

Group Photo

Representatives from the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange and the School of Global and Area Studies were also present at the meeting. Following the meeting, the delegation participated in the opening ceremony of the 26th Italian Language Week hosted by GDUFS.