The ceremony for signing the academic exchange cooperation agreement between our school and Graduate School of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences was held at the No.2 Conference Room, Floor 5, No. 2 Building at Shanghai Academy of Social Science on September 19. Professor Zhu Pingfang, the dean of Graduate School of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences presided over the ceremony.

Professor Luo Yuting, deputy secretary of the party committee of Wuhan University, Professor Wang Zhen, the deputy dean of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Professor Xie Dan Yang, the dean of our school delivered speeches at the ceremony. Both sides highly valued the strategic cooperation and hoped that more results can be produced in the future cooperation and a win-win even multi-win situation can be achieved.

Before the signing ceremony, Professor Wang and Professor Zhu of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences had a cordial meeting with the delegation of our school led by Professor Luo. Professor Wang said, Wuhan University is a national well-known university at the middle reach of Yangtze River, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences located at Shanghai, a developed area at lower reach of Yangtze River is one of the first-group organizations that established central-level think tank. Therefore, the strategic and academic exchange and cooperation between two sides is worth expecting. He noted that, the two sides could jointly explore the new roads to combine think tank research and high-level academic research and could conduct joint research on strategic programs such as Yangtze River Economic Zone. Currently, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences undertakes the research related with the program, and hopes that interested scholars of Wuhan University can play a part in the research of the program. Yangtze River Economic Zone is vital for the economic development of China and plays an important role in the national strategy of “one belt and one road”. Wuhan and Shanghai respectively located at the middle and lower reach of Yangtze River can bring their geographic merits into full play and conduct scientific research on integration and differentiation. In addition, Professor Wang hoped that, such cooperation can promote the capacity of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences in graduate training, especially graduates in management disciplines (enterprise management and urban management) which are the weak points of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, and Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences could receive support and assistance from the School of Economy and Management of Wuhan University.

Professor Luo Yuting from Wuhan University also gave an introduction to the basic situation and academic advantages of Wuhan University at the ceremony, and marked that, Wuhan University highly valued the special status and geographic advantage of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences and was more than willing to cooperate with Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences in teaching, scientific research, talent training, teacher exchange, etc. Professor Luo also pointed that, as one of the earliest academy of social sciences in China, Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences was the leader of local academy of social sciences and possesses unique advantages in social sciences research, think tank construction, government resources, etc. In future cooperation, the two sides can establish a long-term cooperation mechanism to complement each other’s advantages and realize win-win, and expand the connotation and field of cooperation. At last, he noted that, Wuhan University was expected to play its own merits to complement Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, the leading organization of national key program “Yangtze River Economic Zone”.

Afterwards, Professor Xie gave an introduction to the basic situation of the school and marked that, the academic exchange center, scientific research and teaching program, recommended candidates for master and doctor degree, exchange visits among teachers between Wuhan University and Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences are powerful combination measures. At the ceremony, he also expressed his sincere gratitude to Professor Chen Jiyong, the former dean of our school and Wang Zhan, director of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences for their contribution to the cooperation between the two sides.

Upon the completion of meeting, Professor Xie on behalf of our school and Zhu Pingfang on behalf of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences signed the framework agreement for cooperation, which was witnessed by the all attendees. Professor Luo of Wuhan University and Professor Wang of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences unveil the nameplate of the Shanghai Academic Exchange Center of our school, and gave each other the gift of the school.

Others attending the meeting are Ding Botao, the deputy director of Party and Government Office of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Hou Weidong and Da Hao, the assistants to the dean of Graduate School of Shanghai Academy of Social Sciences, Liu Xueyuan, the assistant to the dean of our school, Yang Yanping in charge of Shanghai Teaching Office of our school, and other staff. (Correspondent: Liu Xueyuan&Yang Yanping, edited by Bettina)