On 28 March, Dr. Desta Mebratu, Deputy Director of UNEP Regional Office for Africa visited Tongji University. Prof. Qi DONG, Vice President of Tongji University hosted the bilateral meeting. Prof. Fengting LI, Vice Dean of UNEP-Tongji Institute of Environment for Sustainable Development (IESD), Mr. Xin WANG, Vice Dean of IESD, Dr. Hongtao WANG, Associate Professor of the College of Environmental Science and Engineering, Ms. Jing LI from International Exchange and Cooperation Office and IESD staff attended this meeting.

Prof. Qi DONG warmly welcomed the visit of Dr. Desta Mebratu and briefly introduced Tongji University, especially its strengths in environmental science and engineering and its tremendous efforts in building the Sustainable University and promoting the concept of Environment and Sustainable Development. Meanwhile, Prof. DONG emphasized the critical role of the IESD platform in promoting the south-south cooperation. Prof. Qi DONG expressed gratitude to UNEP for its consistent support for the mutual cooperation, and extended thanks to Mr. Desta’s inclusive sharing with Tongji students by his knowledge, experience and wisdom.

During the meeting, Dr. Hongtao WANG gave a presentation on Tongji’s involvement in UNEP-China-Africa Program. Dr. Desta Mebratu highly appreciated and praised on Tongji’s great efforts and contributions. Then it followed the fruitful discussion on how to deepen the future cooperation between UNEP and Tongji in terms of South-South Cooperation (SSC) and China-Africa Cooperation.

After the meeting, with the accompany of Prof. Fengting LI, Mr. Desta Mebratu visited the Gallery of Tongji University History, the Department of Chemistry, the College of Environmental Science and Engineering and State Key Laboratory of Pollution Control and Resources Reuse. The Party Secretary of the College of Environmental Science and Engineering Prof. Xiangfeng HUANG and the Party Secretary of the Department of Chemistry Prof. Guo Qiang WANG received the visit of Dr. Desta Mebratu.