A new phase in efforts to promote Australia-Asia links has begun with the signing of a landmark memorandum of understanding between UTS and the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA).
The agreement, signed at the conclusion of the Boao Forum Sydney 2015 last week, is designed to deepen the level of engagement and cooperation between the two organisations. The BFA promotes economic exchange, coordination, and cooperation within Asia and between Asia and other parts of the world.
The Australia-China Relations Institute (ACRI) at UTS commenced an informal relationship with BFA last year, with BFA Secretary-General Wenzhong Zhou accepting an invitation to visit Sydney as a guest of ACRI UTS in December 2014. At the culmination of this visit Mr Zhou accepted an Adjunct Professorship with ACRI UTS.
Speaking at the MOU signing ceremony, Secretary-General Zhou said the MOU marked the beginning of an exciting period of cooperation.
"We will use this MOU to try and work with ACRI to focus on more important issues in the region and to continue to develop the relationship between China and Australia," Mr Zhou said.
After signing the agreement on behalf of UTS, Deputy Vice Chancellor (International and Advancement) Professor William Purcell commended the work of ACRI and highlighted UTS' dedication to strengthening ties between Australia and China.
"UTS is especially engaged with Asia and has a history of working with China on research, teaching and exchange activities. This MOU gives us an opportunity to build on our previous successes," Professor Purcell said.
ACRI Director Professor the Hon Bob Carr welcomed the MOU and said it was an important step in building a collaborative approach to the advancement of regional links.
"ACRI UTS is working hard to foster closer ties between Australia and China in all aspects of the bilateral relationship. This MOU will add another layer to our relationship," Professor Carr said.
The Boao Forum for Asia is a nongovernmental and non-profit international organisation. Proposed in 1998 by Fidel V. Ramos, former President of the Philippines, Bob Hawke, former Prime Minister of Australia, and Morihiro Hosokawa, former Prime Minister of Japan, BFA was formally inaugurated on February 27 2001. BFA has won support from Asian countries and drawn extensive attention from around the world. It has become a platform for dialogs among leaders of national governments, businesses, and academia of countries in Asia and other continents.
Pictured above, from left to right: ACRI Chairman Mr Xiangmo Huang, Professor William Purcell, Professor the Hon Bob Carr, BFA Secretary-General Wenzhong Zhou, BFA Managing Director Ms Xiaohong Zhu, Consul-General at the Chinese Consulate in Sydney Mr Huaxin Li and the Director of UTS International Mr Leo Mian Liu.
- UTS has signed a landmark memorandum of understanding with Boao Forum for Asia, which promotes economic exchange, coordination, and cooperation within Asia and between Asia and other parts of the world
- The agreement is designed to deepen the level of engagement and cooperation between the two organisations and is seen as an important step in building a collaborative approach to the advancement of regional links