Vice President Li (Right, front) and
President Ronquillo (Left, front) sign MOU
OUC Vice President Li Huajun visited the provincial government of Batangas and Batangas State University in Philippines during April 17-21, 2017, at the invitation of Hermilando I. Mandanas, Governor of Batangas, and President Tirso A. Ronquillo of the BSU. It was the first time for OUC presidential delegation to visit Philippines for cooperation on biodiversity protection and joint establishment of Confucius Institute.
On April 18, OUC delegation was welcomed by Governor Hermilando I. Mandanas, as well as the representatives of BSU and the provincial Department of Agriculture. After introducing the history, geography and economy of Batangas, the Governor said that China and the Philippines enjoy friendly relations and frequent economic exchange, but cultural and educational exchanges are more important. Learning Chinese language is highly demanded by the large number of Chinese people in the Philippines. Batangas province values the cooperation with Chinese provinces and universities and is in favor of establishing Confucius Institute for more exchange in culture and education. Governmental resources will be tapped to jointly fund CI with BSU and OUC so that more Philippine students have the access to Chinese language and Chinese culture. By increasing the scholarship, Batangas province encourages the Philippine students to study in China. Governor Hermilando hoped that OUC could extend its intellectual strength to help develop the marine and fishery research institutions in Batangas, and to set up a joint center for marine biodiversity protection in the province.
Grateful to Governor Hermilando for his hospitality, Vice President Li pointed out that Confucius Institute would be a win-win outcome for the local people learning Chinese and for improving the local language facilities. On the other hand, it would help to promote Chinese culture so that more foreign students can learn Chinese and know about Chinese culture.
Potential cooperation in fisheries and biodiversity was explored by Prof. Li Qi, Dean of OUC Fisheries College, and Prof. Mao Yunxiang, Deputy Dean of OUC College of Marine life Sciences. Discussions were also made between two parties in ocean and climate change, ocean observation and forecast, ocean engineering, disaster prevention and reduction.
On April 19, OUC delegation visited Batangas State University. President Tirso A. Ronquillo met with OUC delegation. At the meeting were four BSU Vice Presidents in charge of foreign affairs, academics, research and financial affairs, as well as the leaders of BSU international office and some related colleges.
President Tirso welcomed OUC delegation and hoped to cooperate with OUC in engineering, marine and fisheries sciences. He proposed the research cooperation, academic exchange and the exchange programs of faculty and students in the fields of common interest.
Vice President Li said that he was looking forward to the cooperation with BSU by co-founding Confucius institute for a win-win outcome and closer exchange between two universities. He hoped that BSU students can study at OUC by applying for the scholarship granted by Chinese Government and OUC. He also encouraged the mutual visits of the professors and joint application for research projects to upgrade the research level of the two universities. Song Wenhong, Director of OUC International Office introduced OUC especially its historical development, operation principles, faculty and students, internationalization and international students. Professor Luo Yirong, Deputy Dean of OUC College of Liberal Arts, Journalism and Communication, introduced CI-related principles, management and current situation, and what is required for a new Confucius Institute. Dean Li Qi and Deputy Dean Mao Yunxiang introduced respectively the academics and researches of OUC Fisheries College and College of Marine Life Sciences, including research strength, talent education and research achievement, and discussed with BSU delegates about potential cooperation areas of common interest.
The two universities signed the cooperation MOU after the exchange and discussion.
On the morning of April 20, accompanied by the representatives of BSU and the Batangas provincial Department of Agriculture, OUC delegation sailed to Verde Island of marine biodiversity in southeast of Tatangas where they collected some samples of marine life. In the afternoon, OUC delegation visited the National Fisheries Biological Center —— an aquaculture base of TAAL city in Batangas.
OUC delegation visits NFRDI tropical aquaculture farm of seawater fish and fresh water fish
Translated by Liang Hong
