Sim Ann (L), Singapore's senior minister of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, engages in talks with Zhang Liqun (R), president of XJTU and an academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering.

A delegation led by Sim Ann, Singapore's senior minister of state at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Home Affairs, visited Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU) on July 13. Both sides held discussions on deepening higher education cooperation, expanding joint talent training, and promoting collaborative innovation in scientific research.

Zhang Liqun, president of XJTU and an academician from the Chinese Academy of Engineering, said that in recent years, the university has established strong cooperative ties with institutions such as the National University of Singapore, Nanyang Technological University, and the Singapore University of Technology and Design. The scope of fields covered includes mechanical engineering, electrical engineering, energy and power engineering, materials science, medicine, and the humanities and social sciences.

Zhang expressed hope that taking this visit as an opportunity, both sides would deepen their collaboration in industry-education integration and the commercialization of research achievements. He also hoped they would continue to expand connectivity in higher education, and strengthen youth and faculty exchanges to contribute to the development of education and technology in both countries.

Sim noted that Singapore and China share broad prospects for cooperation in education, technology, and the cultural domain. As a prestigious institution of higher learning in China, XJTU not only plays a vital role in Shaanxi province's economic and social development, but also serves as a major driving force behind the development of China's central and western regions.

Singapore and China have long maintained constructive dialogue in higher education, and Sim said she looks forward to further expanding cooperation with XJTU in talent training, scientific innovation, and academic exchange around cutting-edge fields such as artificial intelligence, materials science, and healthcare.