On July 3, Chen Yulu, President of Nankai University, met with H.E. Mr. Farhod Arziev, Uzbekistan’s Ambassador to China, and his delegation at Haibing Center on Balitai Campus. Chen Jun, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Executive Vice President of Nankai University, attended the meeting.

Chen Yulu welcomed Ambassador Arziev and his delegation and introduced Nankai University’s history, disciplinary strengths, and exchanges and cooperation with Uzbekistan. He noted that in recent years, Nankai University has actively expanded cooperation with Uzbekistan in talent cultivation, scientific research and people-to-people exchanges. Faculty members and students on both sides have maintained close contact through exchange visits and collaborative research, laying a solid foundation for deeper cooperation. During the 2025 SCO Tianjin Summit, Nankai University took the initiative to launch the SCO Digital Economy University Alliance together with Chinese universities and universities in SCO member states. He expressed the hope that universities in Uzbekistan would join the alliance and further strengthen exchanges and collaboration in the digital economy. Looking ahead, Nankai University is ready to build on its disciplinary strengths and explore deeper cooperation with Uzbek universities in talent cultivation, youth exchanges, scientific research and international Chinese language education. Through coordinated progress in education, science and technology, and talent development, the university hopes to contribute to building a China–Central Asia community with a shared future.

Ambassador Arziev spoke highly of Nankai University’s century-long educational tradition and the strong foundation of educational exchanges between China and Uzbekistan. He said that interactions between the two countries stretch back from the ancient Silk Road to the Belt and Road Initiative. The two heads of state have agreed to deepen the China–Uzbekistan all-weather comprehensive strategic partnership for a new era, and both sides attach great importance to strengthening exchanges and cooperation among higher education institutions. With its strong academic disciplines and notable achievements in emerging and frontier fields, Nankai University is well positioned to play a positive role in cultivating professionals needed by Uzbekistan. He expressed the hope that more leading Uzbek universities would establish and deepen partnerships with Nankai University, promote faculty and student exchanges, research collaboration and academic dialogue, and jointly cultivate more highly qualified professionals aligned with the development needs of both countries.

Following the talks, President Chen Yulu and Ambassador Arziev had a warm exchange with three Uzbek students currently studying at Nankai University. They encouraged the students to become proficient in Chinese, acquire advanced knowledge in their fields, and contribute to Uzbekistan’s development and to friendship and exchanges between China and Uzbekistan.

That day, Ambassador Arziev and his delegation also visited Nankai University History Exhibition and learned about the university’s century-long history of education, talent cultivation and perseverance.

（Edited and translated by Nankai News Team.)