Delegation from the University of Naples “L’Orientale” Visits GDUFS

On the afternoon of May 19, a delegation from the University of Naples “L’Orientale” (the Orientale University), led by Rector Roberto Tottoli, paid a visit to Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS). President Yan Xiangbin received the guests in the VIP Hall of the Administration Building of the Baiyun Mountain Campus. The two sides exchanged views on talent cultivation, collaborative projects, and other topics of mutual interest.

Highlight from the Meeting

President Yan extended a warm welcome to Rector Tottoli and his delegation. He highlighted GDUFS’s distinctive strengths in international education and its disciplinary advantages. As the university with the most foreign language programs in South China, GDUFS currently offers programs in 33 foreign languages and 76 undergraduate majors, and enjoys strong influence in fields such as foreign languages and cultures, foreign-related rule of law, and global economic governance. He also mentioned that GDUFS has established partnerships with 511 universities in 66 countries and regions. Through the PRIME Program for International Exchange and Cooperation, the university continues to promote international talent development and research innovation.

As a key participant in Sino-Italian educational cooperation, GDUFS is home to the only Italian Studies program in South China authorized to offer both undergraduate and master’s degrees, and it also hosts nationally and provincially recognized first-class undergraduate programs. Yan expressed the hope that, building on existing cooperation, the two universities could further expand areas of collaboration, jointly cultivate high-level interdisciplinary talent to serve the Belt and Road Initiative, and deepen research collaboration, thus contributing to mutual learning between Chinese and Italian civilizations through joint educational efforts.

Rector Tottoli thanked GDUFS for its warm hospitality and commended the university’s accomplishments in language education and international cooperation. He introduced the Orientale University as one of Europe’s oldest institutions for Oriental studies, with a mission to promote intercultural dialogue and mutual understanding among civilizations. The university offers programs in over 40 languages, as well as in disciplines such as international relations. As a major hub for Sinology research in Italy, the Orientale University has made remarkable contributions to the advancement of Sinology both in Italy and globally. Tottoli emphasized the strong foundation of collaboration between the two institutions in language and cultural studies. He expressed his hope to explore new models of cooperation in areas such as cultural studies, joint development of international relations programs, and faculty and student exchanges — working together to set an example of Sino-Italian educational cooperation.

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. After the meeting, both sides participated in academic lectures and discussions at the School of Global and Area Studies on topics of mutual interest.