Ms. Debora Serracchiani, the President of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region of Italy, paid a visit to the UCAS Zhongguancun campus on the morning of December 5th, accompanied by Mr. Ettore Francesco Sequi, Italian Ambassador to China. Prof. Wu Yueliang, Vice President of UCAS, met with the delegation.
Vice President Wu welcomed and briefed the Italian visitors on the university - institute’s fusion of leadership, faculty, and management, as well as UCAS's “two-phase” mode of education. He also overviewed scholarship programs for International students and various collaborative international programs at UCAS, emphasizing the ICTP - AP (International Centre for Theoretical Physics Asia-Pacific) program, the Sino - Danish Center program and the First International Science Forum of National Scientific Organizations on the Belt and Road Initiative held by CAS.
Ms. Debora Serracchiani said that the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region highly values scientific and technological cooperation and innovation. There are many universities, like the University of Trieste and the University of Udine; some renowned international institutions, like ICTP, SISSA (International School for Advanced Studies) and TWAS (Third World Academy of Sciences); and a number of innovative enterprises in the region. She said that the regional government is eager to cooperate with UCAS on student exchange programs and scientific research in addition to education and transforming research and development into achievements.
Both sides agreed to sign a contract and establish a UCAS Sub – Forum during the Italian “One Belt One Road” Forum to be held in Trieste in March, 2018.
Mr. Zeno D’ Agostino, President of Port System Authority of the Eastern Adriatic Sea (Trieste), Mr. Carlo Fortuna, President of International relations and Strategic Infrastructure Bureau, Mr. Mauro Zambelli, the Representative of Science and Innovation System of the Friuli Venezia Giulia Autonomous Region, and Ms. Manuela Croatto, Director of Students’ Affairs and International relations Office of the University of Udine were present. Professor Wu Desheng, Deputy Dean of International College of UCAS, also attended.
Friuli Venezia Giulia is one of 20 regions in Italy, and one of five autonomous regions with special status. Friuli Venezia Giulia has an area of 7,858 km² and about 1.2 million inhabitants. Friuli Venezia Giulia is divided into four provinces: Pordenone, Udine, Gorizia and Trieste. The regional capital is Trieste.
The ICTP - AP proposal was submitted by CAS, and adopted by the 38th General Conference of UNESCO. The ICTP - AP is planned to be co-constructed by CAS, NSFC and ICTP (UNESCO Category 1, Italy). It will be the first center (UNESCO Category 2) of basic science in China, and also the second center co-constructed by CAS and UNESCO. The ICTP-AP will be set up at UCAS campus.
