David J. Skorton, President of Cornell Univ. Visited SJTU

SJTU President Zhang Jie and Sun Chao, Secretary of CPC Shanghai Minhang District Committee, met with the visiting delegation led by Prof. David J. Skorton, President of Cornell University. They had a cordial talk on education, scientific research cooperation and other issues and listened to the two universities' reports on their cooperation and latest advances.

Secretary Sun Chao extended his warm welcome to the visit of the world-famous Cornell University to Minhang District and its active efforts in conducting extensive and in-depth cooperation in new modes with Shanghai Jiao Tong University. President Zhang Jie also expressed his wish for future substantive cooperation in agricultural fields and more cooperation in other fields.

President Skorton thanked for their warm welcome, and he said during the revisit, he witnessed both Minhang and SJTU were developing with tremendous speed. He spoke highly of Secretary Sun's vision and actively responded to President Zhang's prospects on the inter-university cooperation.  

Afterwards, President Skorton guested on Shanghai Jiao Tong University Inspiration Forum upon invitation and delivered a splendid speech titled "International Linkages in Higher Education: Bringing Our Worlds Together". President Skorton held that close cooperation between the world's leading universities is one of the best ways to solve the climatic, disease, and trade problems facing the human society today. Cornell University and renowned SJTU have maintained close contact, cooperating in scientific research and talent education.

He also shed light on the desirable qualities Chinese students should possess to succeed in the United States: good English communication skills, great enthusiasm for and curiosity about one's own research area, ability to think independently and problem-solving skills, willingness to listen and learn from others, and rapid integration in the local community. He hoped that every Chinese student to study in the United States would become bridges between great cultures.

After the speech, President Skorton also visited the Shanghai Center for Systems Biomedicine of SJTU and was amazed by the medical research results and advances made by SJTU.