From 14:30 to 15:30 (Egyptian time) on September 2, the preparatory meeting of the Egyptian Alumni Association of Southwest University was successfully held in the U-shaped conference room of the Egyptian Civilization Museum. A delegation led by Zhao Yufang, Vice President of Southwest University, representatives of teachers from Ain Shams University, Egyptian alumni of Southwest University and Egyptian youth who intend to study in China gathered together, and the meeting was presided over by Yan Yi, Secretary of the Party Committee of the School of Foreign Languages of Southwest University.
In her welcome speech, Vice President Zhao Yufang first paid tribute to the faculty representatives who have long promoted the inter-university cooperation between Southwest University and Ain Shams University, expressed greetings to the Egyptian alumni who have always been concerned about Western University despite their absence, and extended a warm welcome to Egyptian young people who have the dream of studying in China. She mentioned that the friendly exchanges between China and Egypt extend from the ancient Silk Road to the new era of the "Belt and Road", and the Egyptian Alumni Association will become the "spiritual home" of overseas alumni, and will also be an important window for Egyptian youth to understand China and enter Southwest University, continuing to write a new chapter for the friendship between the two universities and educational exchanges between the two countries.
At the meeting, Chen Bingjun, Director of the International Cooperation and Exchange Office of Southwest University, introduced in detail the achievements of the university's international cooperation and exchanges: it has established cooperative relations with more than 230 universities and scientific research institutions in more than 50 countries and regions, cooperated with 9 foreign universities in 11 professional fields, built 16 international joint laboratories, and promoted Chinese dissemination and cultural exchanges through 8 overseas international Chinese education institutions. He said that he expects Egyptian alumni to give full play to their cross-cultural advantages and help their alma mater expand their international cooperation network.
Subsequently, representatives of Ain Shams University faculty shared their experience of cooperation between the two universities, Egyptian alumni recalled their study time at Western University, and young people who intended to go to China talked about their yearning for China and Western University, and their sincere sharing resonated with the audience. Zhang Yuansong, Secretary of the Party Committee of the International College of Southwest University, then put forward the initiative to establish an alumni association, clarifying the triple positioning of the alumni association as a "warm bond", "exchange platform" and "growth ladder".
Finally, the delegation of Southwest University presented cultural and creative products that integrate traditional Chinese cultural elements and the characteristics of the campus of Southwest University to the faculty representatives of Ain Shams University, Egyptian alumni and youth representatives, and carry friendship with tokens. Subsequently, the participants took a group photo, drawing a successful end to the preparatory meeting. The successful holding of this conference has laid a solid foundation for the official establishment of the Egyptian Alumni Association of Southwest University, and will further deepen the friendly exchanges between China and Egypt in the field of education.
