Foreign and Military Affairs

Australian minister hails ties with Chinese university

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-11-03 14:48

CANBERRA - Australian Minister for Tertiary Education, Senator Chris Evans on Wednesday welcomed a joint agreement signed between universities from Australia and China.

Australia's University of Technology, Sydney (UTS) on Wednesday signed an agreement with China's Shanghai University to boost research, students exchange and training collaboration.

The Key Technology Partnership agreement between the two universities was witnessed on Wednesday by the Senator Evans, in Shanghai of China.

The partnership focuses on cross-border collaboration, research and training, which will include enhancing research networks, quality and funding opportunities, staff and students international exchanges and joint centers of excellence.

Senator Evans said China is now the third most prolific partner country in Australian scientific publications, up from the eighth just a decade ago. He added that it is yet another example of Australia's growing links with the world-leading Chinese science and research sector.

"We are now seeing the emergence of the next stage of Australia' s international engagement that will bring closer links and collaboration with leading international research and innovation centers," Senator Evans said in a statement on Wednesday.

"It is clear that Australia and China are well down the path of bringing to fruition the advantages of closer cooperation and exchange that will be of great benefit to both countries."

The signing of the agreement was also welcomed by Innovation Minister, Senator Kim Carr, who indicated that Australian and Chinese students will therefore benefit from the new international education partnership.

This agreement further symbolizes the strong, dynamic, mutually beneficial science and research partnership between our countries, Senator Carr said in a statement, adding that collaborations of this kind offer immense benefits in areas as diverse as medicine, environmental science and nanotechnology.

Shanghai University has been a strategic educational partner for UTS since 1994.

As part of the ceremony, a dual-degree PhD scholarship agreement was also signed in Shanghai of China on Wednesday. The agreement will offer significant partnering opportunities for Australian researchers and PhD students.