On November 12, 2018, on the occasion of the establishment of sister city cooperation relationship between Chongqing and Cincinnati, an education, economy and trading delegation of Cincinnati led by John Cranley, mayor of Cincinnati, visited Chongqing University. During the visit, Mayor John Cranley met with Liu Hanlong, vice president of Chongqing University, and paid a visit to CQU-UC Joint Co-op Institute.

 

In the afternoon, Mayor John Cranley of Cincinnati and his companions met with Liu Hanlong, vice president of Chongqing University. Liu Hanlong extended warm welcome to the guests, and gave an introduction to basic information on Chongqing University such as its geological location and its economic and cultural status. After that, Liu gave a view of the research findings and development conditions of Chongqing University and its outstanding and characteristic disciplines, and explained briefly the internationalization efforts made by the University. Afterwards, Mayor John Cranley extended his sincere gratitude to Chongqing University for the warm reception. He added that the purpose of this visit was to establish a “sister city” relation with Chongqing University, consolidate the cooperation relation with CQU, provide substantial support for development of CQU-UC Joint Co-op Institute and seek for further cooperation. John Cranley also showed his support and recognition of all academic exchange projects and student exchange programs between the two. In the last part, Jiang Yan, deputy dean of CQU-UC Joint Co-op Institute, and Thomas Houston, the American dean of the Institute, gave a brief introduction to the basic development condition and teaching construction outcomes of the Institute and explained their planning for future development.

 

After the meeting, the two parties exchange gifts and took group photos.

 

 

After that, the delegation was showed around Huxi Campus, and had a meeting with the teachers and students from the Institute in the Comprehensive Building. Xia Zhining, executive deputy director of Huxi Campus and assistant to CQU president, Jiang Yan, vice dean of the Institute, Thomas Houston, American dean of the Institute, all Chinese administrative staff, American teachers and teaching assistants, and student representatives attended the meeting. At the meeting, Jiang Yan and Thomas Houston respectively gave a view of the operation and advantages, as well as achievements and future planning of this program. Yu Miao, a student of 2015 majoring in electrical engineering, and Du Haoran, a student majoring in machinery, shared their feelings and gains in the study at the Institute.

 

David Adams, chief innovation officer of the University Cincinnati, said that he was amazed by the achievements made by the Institute’s students in study and in the process of studying, and they exhibited the gratifying outcomes of internationalization. David Adams added that he was delighted to see such a great success in operation of the Institute and expressed his hope that the students would still serve and make contributions to Chongqing University after graduation. Hollie Hinton, oversea business development officer of Economic Development Agency of Greater Cincinnati, pointed out that she was surprised by the success of the operation mode of the Institute and wished the Institute a brilliant future. She also expressed her hope that China and the USA would further their cooperation in student cultivation.

 

Mayor John Cranley of Cincinnati is a ping pong lover. On the visit to the campus, John Cranley played ping pong with retired workers of Chongqing University in a convivial atmosphere.

 

Kimberly Luotebache, president of Economic Development Agency of Greater Cincinnati, David Adams, chief innovation officer of the University Cincinnati, Hurley Hington, chief innovation officer of the University of Cincinnati, Justin Kaercher, senior management of Economic Development Agency of Ohio, and Wang Fangzhu from the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Chongqing Municipality, accompanied the delegation during the visit. Xu Jun, director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, Jiang Yan, deputy dean of CQU-UC Joint Co-op Institute, and other workers were also present at the event.