On June 20th, Francesco Profumo, Italian Minster of Education, Universities and Research, Attilio Massimo Iannucci, Ambassador of Italy in China, visited Tongji University. Prof. Zhou Zuyi, Chairman of the University Council, Vice President Prof. Fang Shouen, and representatives from different colleges participated in the meeting.

At 10:00am, Prof. Zhou Zuyi met Minister Profumo expressing his satisfaction on the fruitful cooperation which results in joint talent training between Tongji and Italian universities and hoping that Minister Profumo could continue to support the cooperation. He also pointed out that the Sino-Italian Center for Sustainability, initiated by the Italian Ministry for the Environment, Land and Sea and Tongji University during the visit of Italian Minister Clini in May 2012, should receive support from Minister Profumo.

Minister Profumo responded that, since his participation in the opening ceremony of Sino-Italian Campus in 2006, he has witnessed its growth and development and also fully affirmed its functions and efforts. He mentioned that Italian governments paid high attention to the education and training of Chinese students in Italy and would continue to increase Chinese students’ number. Joint training programs with Tongji University on master degree and doctoral degree will also be increased and extended to other disciplines which Italy is strong at such as studies on cultural heritage.

Minister Profumo said, centered in the 7 industries to be developed with priority by European Union, Italy will support design innovation, energy, suitability and other projects. He pointed out that during the meeting with Minister Wan Gang, both parties affirmed the high expectations for CIDIC’s development and emphasized that we should quicken the growth pace by inviting more companies in the cooperation network. He also affirmed that the founding of Tongji Sino-Italian Strategic Advisory Board had important significance. Finally, he emphasized that Italian government and related departments will fully support Tongji’s cooperation projects with Italy.

After the meeting, Prof. Zhou conferred to Minister Profumo the certificate of Honorary Professor and badge, and the two parties exchanged gifts.

Afterwards, Minister Profumo and present representatives witnessed the signing ceremony of the Cooperation Agreement between Tongji University and Politecnico di Torino signed by Prof. Zhou Zuyi and Rector of Politecnico di Torino Marco Gilli.