On the 20th of February, H.E. Mohsen Bakhtiar, the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to China, led a delegation to visit the Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech). President Qikun Xue, along with the heads of the College of Science, College of Engineering, Graduate School, and SUSTech Global, warmly welcomed the guests.

During the meeting, President Qikun Xue extended a cordial welcome to the Iranian delegation and provided an overview of SUSTech’s dedication to cultivating high-level talents with a global perspective and innovative capabilities. He highlighted the presence of Iranian students and scholars currently studying or working at SUSTech expressing a shared vision for fostering deeper academic collaboration through initiatives such as student and faculty exchange, joint research projects, and cultural programs. President Xue underscored the potential for mutual benefit and global advancement through collaborative efforts.

Ambassador Mohsen Bakhtiar expressed his gratitude for the warm reception and spoke highly of SUSTech’s accomplishments. He emphasized the longstanding friendship between Iran and China and the significance of educational cooperation. The Ambassador echoed President Xue’s proposal and expressed keen interest in enhancing collaboration between Iranian universities and SUSTech in areas such as talent cultivation, research partnership, and cultural exchange. He expressed optimism about the prospect of more Iranian students studying at SUSTech in the future and believed that the cooperation between SUSTech and Iranian institutions will further strengthen the friendly relations and mutual development between China and Iran. 

Also on the visit were Hosseinali Darvishi, Consul General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Guangzhou; Kamal Afshar, Counsellor of the Islamic Republic of Iran to China; Esmail Mehryar, Counsellor of the Islamic Republic of Iran to China; Sara Nazari, Economic & Public Diplomacy Consul of the Consulate General of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Guangzhou; and Mahdi Nazari, Technology & Innovation Counsellor.

The delegation were warmly guided on a campus tour.

Text by Ou Cai

Photo by Jiahui Su

Reviewed by Wei Hong