From December 10th to 14th, at the invitation of friendly institutions, Tan Zhemin, President of Nanjing University and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, led a delegation to visit the United States. During the visit, the delegation visited Johns Hopkins University (hereinafter referred to as "JHU"), signed a new five-year cooperation agreement for the JHU-NJU Center for Chinese and American Studies, and reached a consensus on cooperation with research institutions such as the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University, effectively expanding scientific and educational cooperation with the US and injecting new momentum into Sino-US higher education cooperation and cultural exchanges.
On December 11th, Tan Zhemin and his delegation visited JHU and met with the university's president, Ron Daniels, and provost, Ray Jayawardhana. Tan Zhemin, Ron Daniels, and Ray Jayawardhana jointly signed a new five-year cooperation agreement for the JHU-NJU Center for Chinese and American Studies. Both sides unanimously stated that, based on nearly forty years of cooperation, they will continue the spirit of collaboration, innovate cooperation models, and jointly create a new paradigm for high-level cross-cultural talent cultivation that connects East and West and faces the future.
Tan Zhemin pointed out that since its establishment nearly forty years ago, the Center has withstood the test of time and changes in Sino-US relations, and has become a model of international cooperation in Sino-US higher education. At present, although the international situation has undergone great changes, the mission of universities to promote cultural and educational exchanges remains unchanged. Looking to the future, NJU is willing to work together with JHU to continuously increase support for the Center and give full play to the Center's more important role as a bridge and leader in the new era.
Ron Daniels expressed his gratitude to NJU for its long-term support for the development of the JHU-NJU Center for Chinese and American Studies. He emphasized that over the past forty years, the two universities have jointly upheld and carried forward the cooperation vision set forth by the founders of the Center, JHU President Steven Muller and NJU President Kuang Yaming. This far-sighted vision not only pioneered Sino-US higher education cooperation at that time but also set a benchmark for global cultural exchanges. He looks forward to the two universities continuing to work hand in hand and further deepening their partnership.
On December 12th, Tan Zhemin and his delegation visited the Paul H. Nitze School of Advanced International Studies (SAIS) at JHU and held talks with Vice Dean Peter Lewis, Mark Bailey, and others. Both sides agreed to maintain close cooperation in the future, add English semester programs, and continue to promote the linkage mechanism between the Sino-US Center and the SAIS's Washington and Bologna campuses, continuously enhancing the international reputation and academic competitiveness of the JHU-NJU Center for Chinese and American Studies. At the academic seminar following the meeting, members of the NJU delegation engaged in active exchanges and discussions with JHU faculty and students on topics such as new strategies for China's economic development, corporate AI applications, and environmental governance policies.
On December 11th, Tan Zhemin and his delegation visited the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory of Columbia University and exchanged views with Director Steven Goldstein and scholar representatives in fields such as paleontology, geochemistry, and marine and polar research. Tan Zhemin pointed out that NJU is a pioneer in Earth system science research in China, with a complete and comprehensive disciplinary system, bringing together clusters of disciplines such as atmospheric science, earth science and engineering, geography and marine science, and environmental science and engineering. China and the United States face common global challenges of climate change and energy transition. NJU looks forward to cooperating with the Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory to jointly cultivate future innovative talents with systematic thinking and an international perspective, and to reserve strength for global scientific endeavors. Goldstein introduced the overview of the observatory, highly recognized NJU's research strength in geology, geography, environment, and other fields, and stated that, taking advantage of the high degree of matching between the two sides’ advantageous research fields, they will promote the establishment of a long-term cooperation mechanism in the upcoming cooperation.
Before the exchange meeting, the delegation members visited the observatory's Tree Ring Laboratory, Core Repository, Polar Research Laboratory, and other sites. On the same day, some delegation members also visited the Columbia Climate School to explore cooperation paths between the two universities in talent cultivation and joint scientific research in multiple fields.
During the visit to the United States, Tan Zhemin and his delegation also paid a courtesy call on Xie Feng, Chinese Ambassador to the United States, and exchanged views on NJU's cooperation achievements and future plans with the US. At the invitation of the embassy, Tan Zhemin gave a special lecture on the theme of "Extreme Weather, Climate, and Sino-US Scientific and Technological Cooperation".
The delegation was warmly welcomed by local NJU alumni in Washington, and several alumni from other regions also came specially to gather. Tan Zhemin thanked the alumni in the US for their long-term care and support for their alma mater, introduced the latest developments and future plans of the university, and encouraged the alumni to continue to care for their alma mater and make progress together.
Leaders and representatives from the Graduate School, JHU-NJU Center for Chinese and American Studies, School of Environment, Business School, and the International Affairs Office accompanied the visit.
