USM, PENANG, 8 January 2018 - Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) continues to be the focus for global collaborations when it received a courtesy call from nine representatives of six renowned universities in China recently.

The six universities are Peking University, University of Science and Technology of China, Xiamen University, Fudan University, Xi'an Jiaotong University and Sun Yat-Sen University.

The Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) Vice-Chancellor, Professor Datuk Dr. Asma Ismail in her welcoming speech said that, USM is always receptive of new collaborative efforts with foreign institutions, in pushing ahead its internationalisation drive to ensure its relevancy and competitiveness at the global stage.

She added that such cooperation can be strengthened through joint efforts in areas such as research, joint-offering of academic programmes as well as staff and student mobility.

Meanwhile, the Director of International Relations Office, Peking University, Professor Dr. Xia Hongwei, in representing the Chinese delegation said, they are keen to explore cooperation in several niche or focused areas among which are marine science, molecular medicine, archaeology and archaeotourism, traditional herbal medicine, Chinese language and cultural studies, fine arts and engineering.

"We are also interested in establishing a centre for interdisciplinary studies on Malaysia-China relations, focusing more on research, and teaching and learning in science and arts under the backdrop of the Belt and Road Initiative," he said.

Also present at the meeting were the Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Academic and International), Professor Dr. Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah; Dean of the School of Management, Professor Dr. Fauziah Md Taib; Dean of Graduate School of Business, Professor Dr. Azlan Amran; Director of the International Mobility and Collaboration Centre (IMCC), Dr. Muhizam Mustafa, along with several representatives from other schools, centres and departments.

Translation: Mazlan Hanafi Basharudin