Peking University, October 9, 2026: From September 23 to 29, Ning Qi, vice chair of Peking University (PKU) Council, led a delegation to Spain and Switzerland, where they met with representatives of partner universities, international organizations, and PKU alumni to discuss academic exchanges and explore new opportunities for cooperation.

The delegation's first stop was the Autonomous University of Madrid (UAM), where Ning Qi met with Miguel Borja Bernabé Crespo, the rector's delegate for internationalization. The two sides reviewed the progress of existing student exchange programs and discussed ways to strengthen academic ties between schools and departments at the two universities.



They also explored opportunities to expand collaboration in fields including international law and international relations, while promoting faculty exchanges in language and cultural studies.

The delegation then visited the University of Granada (UGR), a long-standing partner of PKU, and engaged in a discussion with Inmaculada Marrero Rocha, the vice-rector for internationalization.

Marking four decades of partnership, the two sides discussed ways to expand student and faculty exchanges, strengthen exchanges among language instructors, and further support the Confucius Institute at the University of Granada. They also explored opportunities to leverage their respective strengths in the humanities and social sciences to advance collaboration in language teaching, literary translation, and cultural studies.

Following the meeting, the delegation visited the Confucius Institute at the University of Granada and attended the 2026 Mid-Autumn Festival Poetry Gathering.



In Switzerland, the delegation visited the World Trade Organization (WTO) and met with WTO Deputy Director-General and PKU alumnus Zhang Xiangchen.

Their conversation covered the multilateral trading system, research on global economic governance, and professional training for international organizations. They also explored how PKU could build on its academic strengths in international law and international relations to develop closer connections with international organizations and create more opportunities for PKU students to gain international experience and practical exposure.



The delegation also met with PKU alumni working in Switzerland, including Wang Dawei, an economic officer with the division on globalization and development strategies at the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD).

The alumni shared updates on their work and lives abroad. They also offered suggestions on how PKU could maintain closer ties with its overseas alumni community and provide greater support for younger students.

The visit strengthened PKU's connections with its partner universities in Spain, international organizations, and its overseas alumni community, while opening further possibilities for academic exchange and cooperation in talent development.

Written by: Chiara Isabelle Gunaman
Edited by: Wong Jun Heng, Chen Shizhuo
Source: PKU News (Chinese)