The visit coincided with Queen’s 180th anniversary celebrations and included a series of strategic engagements with leading Chinese universities, government representatives and alumni.

Queen’s links with China date back to the 1850s with a number of strategic partnerships developed over the years between the two regions.

The visit commenced with a 180 year celebratory event attended by Queen’s senior leaders, Minister Archibald, over 60 Queen’s alumni (of which there are over 6450 across China), as well as a number of educational and business partners. Inspired by the year of the University’s founding in 1845, the event included a “Queen’s Leaders 18-45" celebration in recognition of the outstanding achievements of two former students, Zhile Yang and Beidi Wang.

Since graduating with a PhD in Electrical and Electronics Engineering in 2016, Mr Yang is now an Associate Professor at the Shenzhen Institute of Advanced Technology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (SIAT) where he directs the Smart Energy and Intelligent Control Group and has secured research grants and built international research connections. Since graduation with a MSc Management from Queen’s in 2020, Ms Wang has gone on to found a health company aiming to advance women’s reproductive health, Guangzhou Beth Biotechnology Co.,Ltd., through focusing on operating women's health clinics and researching, developing, and producing health products.

The visit focused on strengthening education ties between China and Northern Ireland with key highlights including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding with China University of Political Science and Law (CUPL) formalising a plan for a new transnational education initiative.

Minister Archibald, who joined the delegation for key events, commented: “This visit highlights the role of our universities in driving innovation, fostering collaboration, and opening doors for trade and investment opportunities that will benefit our economy and society.”

As part of a long-standing relationship with China, a joint College was established by Queen’s University Belfast in partnership with China Medical University (CMU) in 2014. China Queen’s College (CQC) is located in Shenyang, a sister city to Belfast, and is focused on developing the next generation of global leaders in the Pharmaceutical Sciences. CQC currently has more than 600 students enrolled and has produced over 600 graduates.

Additional engagements to explore new research and teaching partnerships with Minzu University of China, Beijing Institute of Technology, East China University of Political Science and Law, and Soochow University took place throughout the week.

Professor Margaret Topping, Pro-Vice-Chancellor for Global Engagement at Queen’s University Belfast, added: “This visit demonstrates Queen’s unwavering commitment to building meaningful, long-term partnerships in China. By working together on education and research, we can address global challenges and create opportunities that benefit students, academics, and communities in both regions.”

The delegation also showcased Queen’s research strengths in areas such as sustainable development, health innovation, and advanced manufacturing, positioning the University as a gateway for Chinese partners engaging with the UK and Ireland.

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