Recently, heads of TYUT’s overseas cooperative universities including Aston University(AU) in the UK, Paris Higher Institute of Arts(ESLAP) in France and Kabul University(KU) in Afghanistan have sent letters to the main university leaders to express their sympathy to all the staff and students on the COVID-19 epidemic, and to congratulate on the fact that the local virus spread has been basically curbed in China. CPC Committee Secretary Wu Yucheng and President Huang Qingxue expressed appreciation in their reply.
Alec Cameron, AU Vice-Chancellor and Chief Executive, said in the letter to Huang, “At this difficult time, we send our warmest wishes to you, our many colleagues and the students at TYUT. The partnership between Aston University and Taiyuan University of Technology is important to us, and one which we value greatly. Everyone at Aston University is committed to our continued partnership, and I write to you to reassure you of our continued support for our partners and good friends in China”. He is also very much looking forward to welcoming President Huang to Aston in the near future, once it is possible to travel again.
ESLAP Director Laurene Stein expressed her deepest appreciation, in the letter to Wu, for the great success that TYUT has scored in controlling the epidemic under the leadership of the Chinese government. She also sent her warmest regards to TYUT, which locates in a city where there are no new COVID-19 cases. She is confident that with good medical conditions, sound health service systems, and solidarity of the Chinese people, China is sure to win the ultimate victory in its fighting against COVID-19.
Hamidullah Farooqi, KU Chancellor and Advisor Minister to Afghan President in Higher Education, said in the letter to Huang, “All professors and students of Kabul University extend sincere condolences to the Chinese youth and the people throughout the country. We firmly support the Chinese government and people in fighting epidemic prevention and control. It is believed that under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, China will surely achieve the ultimate victory in epidemic prevention and control and realize greater economic and social development”.
Wu and Huang said in their reply that under the strong leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Comrade Xi Jinping at its core, the COVID-19 spread in China has been basically curbed. TYUT adheres to the principle of "no relaxation in prevention and control, and no stop in work”, and, while doing a good job in epidemic prevention and control, TYUT strives to seize the opportunities to promote "double world-class" construction, aiming at consistency and coordination in epidemic prevention and control as well as the cause development. We believe that after overcoming the epidemic, mutual friendship and understanding between TYUT and its cooperative institutions shall be further deepened, thus embracing broader prospects of collaboration.
TYUT started its cooperation, in the forms of high-level visits, student exchanges, teaching staff introduction, etc., with AU in October 2016, mainly in economics, management, and foreign languages.
TYUT’s partnership, in the forms of high-level visits, joint talent cultivation, cooperative research, academic exchanges, and teaching staff training, with ESLAP started in May 2015, mainly in arts and textile engineering.
Since January 2008, TYUT has been undertaking the construction of KU Confucius Institute, and the past 10-plus years have witnessed exchanges and cooperation in talent cultivation and educational assistance, which have promoted cultural and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries.
