On November 9, the Italy-China Rectors’ Forum was held at Peking University, jointly organized by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and the Italian Ministry of University and Research. With the aim of “promoting cultural exchange and fostering high-level talent”, the forum brought together representatives from 45 universities from both countries, marking a decisive step towards increasingly solid and innovative academic collaboration.

A key moment of the event was the signing of significant cooperation agreements, including a memorandum of understanding between Xi’an Jiaotong University and Politecnico di Milano for the establishment of an international campus in Xi’an, located in the Innovation Harbour.

As emphasized the previous day by President Sergio Mattarella during his meeting with the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, students are at the heart of these cooperation agreements. Those who choose to study in the partner country become true “ambassadors” of cultural dialogue. President Mattarella highlighted a recent study showing that Italian students who spend study periods in China return with an even more positive perception of the country. This finding underscores the transformative potential of academic exchanges, which can break down stereotypes and build lasting bonds between cultures.

During the Italy-China Rectors’ Forum, Shang Zhiwei, Vice President of Xi’an Jiaotong University and Dean of the Joint School of Design and Innovation, along with Sergio Amedeo Pignati, Executive Vice President of the Joint School, signed a strategic agreement aimed at broader and more comprehensive collaboration through scientific research and the joint development of key disciplines such as architecture, design, and engineering.

The Rectors’ Forum reaffirmed the importance of international cooperation in education and research, highlighting how initiatives such as the international campus in Xi’an represent a model of academic integration capable of fostering growth and innovation for both countries.