Official Visit of the Agricultural University of Athens to Beijing

The Agricultural University of Athens successfully concluded its official visit to Beijing, organized with the dual objective of participating in the China International Education Exhibition Tour (CIEET 2026) and conducting high-level bilateral meetings with leading academic institutions in the Chinese capital.

CIEET 2026, organized by the Chinese Service Center for Scholarly Exchange (CSCSE) and the China Study Abroad Forum, constitutes one of the most prominent international higher education exhibitions in China. Held annually since 1999 in major metropolitan centers—including Beijing, Chengdu, and Shanghai—the exhibition attracts thousands of universities and institutions worldwide, as well as millions of visitors. The participation of the Agricultural University of Athens in the 31st edition of the exhibition, as the sole representative from Greece among more than 900 institutions globally, significantly enhances its international visibility and engagement in cross-border academic collaboration. It further underscores the University’s strategic focus on emerging global trends and the promotion of its academic programs in one of the world’s largest and fastest-growing education markets.

The University was represented by the Rector, Professor Spyridon Kintzios, Assistant Professor Georgia Moschopoulou, and PhD Candidate Maria Daoutakou.

In parallel, within the framework of its internationalization strategy and the strengthening of institutional partnerships, the delegation conducted a series of official visits and extended meetings with four distinguished public institutions: the Beijing University of Agriculture (BUA), the Beijing University of Chinese Medicine (BUCM), Capital Medical University, and Peking University Third Hospital (PUTH). Notably, collaboration with PUTH is already established in the field of respiratory virus diagnostics. Meetings were also held with affiliated technology transfer entities, including XIEHE Biological (XHBio).

Among those who participated in the meetings on behalf of the Chinese institutions were Prof. Wu Yan (Vice President, BUA), Prof. He Zhongwei (Director, International Cooperation and Exchange Office, BUA), Prof. Liang Qiong (Vice Dean, College of Bioscience and Resources Environment, BUA), Yi Zhaohong (Foreign Affairs Contact Officer, BUA), Liu Fangchen (International Exchanges and Cooperation Department, BUA), Prof. Ding Xia (Vice President, BUCM), Prof. Lei Haimin (Dean, School of Chinese Materia Medica, BUCM), Wang Xueqian (Head of IECO, BUCM), Zhang Can (IECO, BUCM), Chen Xinying (IECO, BUCM), Prof. Shehing (Vice President, PUTH), Dr. Zhao Feng (Director of President Office, PUTH), Dr. Han Jiangli (Director of Education Department, PUTH), Dr. Yan Liying (Director of Scientific Research Center, PUTH), Dr. Zhao Rongsheng (Director of Pharmacy Department, PUTH), Dr. Xue Lixiang (Director, Center of Medical Research, Institute of Medical Innovation and Research, PUTH), Wang Jian (Deputy Director of President Office, PUTH), He Peixin (Deputy Director, Office of Technology Transfer, PUTH), Wang You (Chief Strategic Development Consultant, XHBio), Wang Yang (President, Group Marketing Department, XHBio), Ji Haiying (Dean of Microbiology, XHBio), Yao Lisha (Marketing Director, XHBio), and Chang Feike (Board Member, XHBio).

The discussions brought together senior academic leaders, administrators, and research and innovation stakeholders from the aforementioned institutions. The agenda focused on identifying and advancing concrete avenues of cooperation, including the exchange of faculty, students, and researchers; the development of joint academic programs; the co-supervision of doctoral research; the implementation of collaborative research initiatives; and the joint valorization of research outputs. Particular emphasis was placed on the University’s newly established international Master’s program, “Integrated Health and Herbal Medicines,” which uniquely integrates Botany and Agricultural Sciences with Medical Science. This interdisciplinary initiative represents a pioneering approach at the international level and aligns closely with areas of longstanding excellence among Chinese academic counterparts.

Through its participation in CIEET 2026 and its high-level institutional engagements in Beijing, the Agricultural University of Athens reaffirms its strong commitment to international outreach and academic excellence. This strategic orientation is especially pertinent in the context of ongoing global transformations driven by rapid advancements in science, technology, and industry, as well as the evolving international geopolitical landscape.