Official Visit of President Mattarella to China: Rector Molari Joins Italian Delegation

Rector Giovanni Molari represented the University of Bologna at the Italian and Chinese Rectors’ Forum held in Beijing last weekend, part of President Sergio Mattarella’s official visit to China. Culture and research are key focal points of this diplomatic mission.

The Forum aims to strengthen academic ties between the two nations, ultimately fostering cultural exchange and mutual learning. In this context, the Rector highlighted that the University of Bologna, which maintains or is finalizing partnerships with ten Chinese universities and has over 1,600 Chinese students, has collaborated productively with its partners across areas ranging from artificial intelligence to robotic automation to pharmaceuticals. “I am confident that these dialogues can help us achieve shared progress and address global challenges,” Molari stated.

President Sergio Mattarella gave special recognition to the University of Bologna during his lectio magistralis at the prestigious Peking University. The President noted how the University of Bologna – the oldest in Italy and Europe – and Peking University – with roots in China’s ancient civilization – are both academic beacons on the global stage.  He commended our university for its ongoing ability to adapt to changing times to remain at the forefront of modernity.

President Mattarella elaborated that in inter-state relations, encompassing political, economic, and cultural dimensions, it is the cultural aspect that is most critical and enduring, as it establishes roots that go beyond temporary conditions. Cultural ties deepen friendships by fostering shared understanding and growth. He noted that the universities of Bologna and Peking are already actively engaged in international collaboration with other institutions, working toward shared research goals and knowledge exchange.

“These two universities, so vital in the global academic landscape, set an example that drives the significant commitment shared by many institutions in this regard,” said Mattarella.

Promoting cooperation through the exchange of faculty, young researchers, and students is essential. “Student exchange has even greater significance, as it not only fosters mutual understanding and common direction in research and studies but also builds fundamental human connections, essential in international relations. For this reason, the roles these universities play are of great importance,” continued the President, referring to the Universities of Bologna and Peking.

In line with the mission’s goals of advancing cultural relations between the two countries and promoting social transformation, Minister of Foreign Affairs Antonio Tajani signed an Executive Programme for Cultural Collaboration between Italy and China for the period 2024-2028. He also signed a Memorandum of Understanding between the Italian Ministry of Universities and Research and the Chinese Ministry of Education, which provides for regular consultations between the two nations to develop academic and cultural synergies. The next Italian and Chinese Rectors’ Forum is already scheduled for 2025.