Secretary Yu Weiguo Meets with Prince Andrew, Duke of York of the UK
On April 16, Yu Weiguo, Secretary of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, met in Fuzhou with Britain's Prince Andrew, Duke of York accompanied by Professor Bob Cryan, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Huddersfield, Professor Lynn Dobbs, Vice-Chancellor of London Metropolitan University, and Ms. Karen Maddock, Consul General of the British Consulate General in Guangzhou.
Secretary Yu said that, with a long history of friendly exchanges, Fujian and the UK enjoy broad prospects for cooperation. Under the guidance of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, Fujian is following the philosophy and practice Xi proposed during his tenure in Fujian to foster an enabling environment for innovation and entrepreneurship by acting on the new vision of development and innovation-driven strategy. Yu thanked the Duke for promoting science and innovation cooperation and people-to-people exchanges between China and the UK, and congratulated him on the growing influence of his Pitch@Palace program. He also expressed the hope that the Duke would support Fujian business start-ups and entrepreneurs, and further enhance the exchanges and cooperation between the two sides in economy and trade, science and technology, and education so as to forge a stronger friendship and achieve win-win outcomes.
The Duke acknowledged Fujian’s openness, great development potential and dynamic innovation. As Pitch@Palace expands its presence in China, it will help Fujian business start-ups build access and connectivity around the world, and enable more matchmaking between entrepreneurs, programs, capital and technology. The Duke wished to gain a deeper understanding of Fujian, reach more consensuses, and jointly push forward innovation-driven development with Fujian.
Also present at the meeting were Mr. Wu Hailong, President of the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA), Mr. Liang Jianyong, member of the Standing Committee and Secretary-General of the CPC Fujian Provincial Committee, and Vice Governor Guo Ningning. Following the meeting, The Duke witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding between the University of Huddersfield and Fujian Normal University.
During his stay in Fuzhou, the Duke also visited Fujian Normal University, Three Lanes and Seven Alleys, and Chunlun Tea Group, and attended Fujian-UK Higher Education Roundtable with Fujian Provincial Department of Education, Fujian Foreign Affairs Office, and representatives from five universities in Fujian to discuss future cooperation on students exchange and R&D.
