In his speech, President Yu said that the cooperation framework agreement signed in 2006 built strong foundations for cooperation between the two parties. During the International Symposium on Marine Science and Technology in October, Prof. Marlon Lewis, Director of the Department of Oceanography, gave a detailed introduction to Dal on teaching and the scientific research of marine-related disciplines.

President Yu added that OUC and Dal have similar marine-related programs and he hopes that the two parties could take this agreement as an opportunity to enhance cooperation in oceanography and fisheries science as well as exchanges in Dal’s priority disciplines including medical science and law.

In order to strengthen cooperation between the two universities, he suggested building up a scientific and rational cooperation framework and making steady progress based on the principle of sustainable development. Apart from the cooperation in oceanography and fisheries, breakthroughs should also be made in such disciplines as law, pharmacy, and materials science.

“Both sides should proactively pave the way to support cooperation in scientific research and the friendly exchange of professors and students of the two universities,” he said. Through practice and time, he added, a systematic mechanism of the student joint training programs will be founded.

Based on their fruitful cooperation, the two parties are able to win the governments’ support for a joint laboratory, he said.

President Richard Florizone expressed his gratitude to OUC’s hospitality, and gave an overview of the disciplinary arrangements, the size of the university, and the conditions of Chinese students at Dal. He also exchanged views with OUC’s participants on such issues as research on marine sciences and programs of student exchange.

The two parties also had detailed discussions on student joint training programs.