On September 21, Chen Yulu, President of Nankai University, welcomed Nicholas Reece, Mayor of Melbourne, Australia, and his delegation at Haibin Center on Balitai Campus. They were accompanied by Luan Jianzhang, Director General of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Tianjin Municipal People’s Government, and Huang Chunyan, Vice President of the Tianjin People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.

At the event, Chen and Reece jointly inaugurated the Nankai University Center for Australian Economy and Culture Research, with NKU Vice President Fang Yongchun presiding over the ceremony.

Drawing on the strengths of Nankai University’s School of Foreign Studies in linguistic expertise and international networking, the Center aims to build a high-level research and cultural exchange platform. It will conduct systematic, cutting-edge research on Australian humanities, society, education, and cultural dissemination, provide policy consultation and decision-making support in response to Tianjin’s internationalization strategy, facilitate China-Australia academic exchanges, assist with intellectual guidance to strengthen bilateral cooperation, and fulfill the important role of a university-based think tank in supporting regional development.

Prior to the inauguration, Chen held talks with Reece. Chen welcomed the delegation and introduced NKU’s history and distinctive strengths, noting that its academic exchanges with Australian universities since the 1980s have achieved fruitful results. He expressed hope that this visit would consolidate cooperation with Melbourne’s government agencies, universities, and academic institutions, broaden areas of communication, deepen joint talent cultivation, advance cultural and industry–academia integration, and open new chapters in educational and research collaboration to further regional cooperation and social progress.

Reece expressed his gratitude to Nankai University for its warm reception, recognizing it as a world-renowned institution with outstanding teaching and research across key disciplines that contribute significantly to national development. He emphasized that Melbourne, as an education-focused city with high-quality resources, is eager to actively build bridges with Nankai University across multiple fields, working together to deepen cooperation and achieve mutual benefits.

Following the ceremony, Reece delivered a keynote speech titled “How the Next Generation in China and Australia Can Drive Innovation Together”. Chen Ylu addressed the speech session.

In his address, Chen Yulu emphasized that Tianjin and Melbourne have fostered a close and fruitful partnership over their 45-year sister-city relationship. Nankai University, as a century-old university based in Tianjin, has been one of the active participants in this cooperation and playing a key role in sustaining their friendship. He added that NKU will continue to promote deeper collaboration in education, scientific research, and cultural exchanges between China and Australia with the vision of openness, cooperation and win-win outcome,. By pooling global wisdom and promoting youth exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations, NKU will make new contributions to the long-term development of the two cities and China-Australia relations.

Drawing on his personal experience, Reece reflected on the long-standing friendship between China and Australia, as well as between Melbourne and Tianjin. He highlighted Melbourne’s unique strengths as a global model of multiculturalism and outlined its innovation-driven talent strategy. He expressed his hope to think of the 45th anniversary of the Melbourne–Tianjin sister-city relationship as an opportunity to deepen collaboration with Tianjin and Nankai University in talent cultivation, scientific research, and student exchanges, thereby enhancing friendly exchanges and practical cooperation between Chinese and Australian cities and universities.

During the Q&A session, Reece responded to attendees’ questions one by one, creating a lively and engaging atmosphere.

After the speech, Chen and Reece attended the finals and award ceremony of the “Friendship Cities Cup” Melbourne-Tianjin Light Volleyball Friendly Match at the Gymnasium on Balitai Campus, jointly presenting trophies to the champion team and medals to participating athletes.

Tianjin Workers Representative Light Volleyball Team – Champion

Melbourne Light Volleyball Team – Runner-up

Nankai University Faculty Light Volleyball Team – the 2nd Runner-up

Star & Sea Alliance Light Volleyball Team – Honorable Mention

The delegation also visited the Nankai University History Exhibition.

Melbourne is Australia’s second-largest city. Tianjin and Melbourne established sister-city relations in 1980 and have since engaged in extensive cooperation in economy and trade, education, and other fields. Nankai University has built long-standing partnerships with the University of Melbourne (since 1983) and RMIT University (since 2011), conducting joint programs, academic exchanges, and collaborative research.

（Edited and translated by Nankai News Team.)