From June 9 to 16, 2024, a five-member delegation from Hainan University (HNU), led by Fu Xuanguo, Secretary of the CPC HNU Committee, visited Brazil and the United States. They visited Federal University of Bahia (Universidade Federal da Bahia, UFBA), State University of Campinas (Universidade Estadual de Campinas, UNICAMP), Universidade de São Paulo (USP) in Brazil, and Arizona State University (ASU) in the United States, focusing on the HNU’s goal of building itself into a comprehensive, research-oriented and internationalized “double first-class” university. They explored the development of the League of Tropical Universities (LTU) and Chinese-Foreign cooperative education, and conducted on-site inspections and face-to-face discussions, with satisfactory results.

On June 10, the delegation visited UFBA. The visit included meetings with Professor Penildon Silva Filho, Executive Vice Rector of UFBA, as well as heads of relevant departments and faculties, and representatives from various departments of the Bahia State Government including Education, Science and Technology, Agriculture, Urban and Rural Planning, and the Engineers’ Union. Both sides had an extensive exchange of information on the economic and social development of their respective regions, expressed mutual aspirations in academic discipline development, and discussed student exchange programs, summer vacation workshops, and joint teaching and research in areas such as tropical rainforests, ecological tourism, tropical agroforestry economics, and environmental protection. As one of the three non-permanent directors of LTU, UFBA highly appreciated HNU’s efforts in the development of LTU, and expressed its willingness to actively participate. During the visit, the two universities signed an agreement on inter-university academic, cultural and scientific cooperation.

Figure 1 Fu Xuanguo meeting with Penildon Silva Filho

Figure 2 HNU delegation visiting UFBA

On June 11, the delegation visited UNICAMP. They held discussions with leaders from the International Office, the School of Agricultural Engineering and the School of Biology. Both two sides agreed to collaborate in the fields of agroecology and biodiversity and the Amazon rainforest’s climate change and ecological responses, with a special focus on the AmazonFACE project. Representatives from UNICAMP expressed great pleasure in partnering with HNU to jointly build LTU, an important platform for multilateral international exchange and cooperation. They confirmed their participation in LTU’s 2025 Annual Meeting, which aims to break new ground in higher education cooperation in tropical regions. During the visit, the two universities signed a memorandum on inter-university cooperation.

Figure 3 HNU delegation meeting with UNICAMP representatives

On June 12, the delegation visited USP. Their discussions centered on intentions to cooperate in student exchange programs, joint training initiatives, agricultural ecology, coastal blue carbon and biodiversity conservation. As a founding member of LTU, USP expressed a strong commitment to enhancing exchanges with China. They outlined plans to establish a China Cooperation Center dedicated to expanding collaborations with Chinese institutions. USP also expressed their continued interest in LTU’s development and confirmed their visit to HNU during LTU’s 2025 Annual Meeting to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with LTU’s members. During the visit, both universities reached consensus on inter-university cooperation.

Figure 4 HNU delegation meeting with USP representatives

From June 13-14, the delegation visited ASU. They engaged in discussions with ASU’s representatives and conducted in-depth visits to ASU’s Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts, Media and Immersive Experience Center (MIX), Thunderbird School of Global Management, Watts College of Public Service and Community Solutions and the Digital Culture Tutor Center. During the visit, the two universities signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between HNU and ASU, expressing their comprehensive cooperation intentions. They agreed to further deepen cooperation based on the achievements of the existing HNU-ASU Joint International Tourism College (HAITC), with the goal of expanding educational cooperation and raising academic standards.

Figure 5 HNU delegation visiting ASU

Figure 6 Fu Xuanguo signing MOU with Chris Howard (Vice President of ASU)

Figure 7 Fu Xuanguo and Julia Rosen (Vice President of ASU) exchanging souvenirs

Figure 8 HNU delegation meeting with representatives of Herberger Institute for Design and the Arts

Figure 9 HNU delegation meeting with representatives of Thunderbird School of Global Management

Members of the delegation included officials from the Office of Development Planning and Discipline Construction (Office for MOE-Hainan Province Joint Construction Program), Office of International Cooperation and Exchange (School of International Education, Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs), School of Ecology, and HAITC.

Source from Office of International Cooperation and Exchange

Translated by Han Yunsheng

Proofread by Lin Ying, Yang Jie