On the morning of November 6th, Professor Luc Taerwe, an elected member of the Royal Belgian Academy of Technical Science and the Director of the East Asia Platform at Ghent University, along with Ms. Zhou Jing, Director of Investment Promotion, China Belgium Technology Center, visited the China-EU Institute for Clean and Renewable Energy (ICARE). Deputy Director Han Jing of HUST's International Affairs Office, ICARE Vice Dean Dr. Zou Mingqing, and other faculty from the International Affairs Office, the School of International Education, and ICARE, held a meeting with the delegation. Deputy Director Han Jing chaired the meeting.

Deputy Director Han Jing welcomed Prof. Luc Taerwe and the delegation, introducing attendees and expressing hope that this exchange would serve as a bridge for collaboration and communication between Huazhong University of Science and Technology and Ghent University, fostering more cooperation initiatives and programs of mutual interests. Dr. Zou Mingqing conveyed his enthusiasm for collaboration with Ghent University’s East Asia Platform, emphasizing the potential to leverage resources and expertise to strengthen student and scholar exchanges between China and Belgium and to advance Sino-Belgian scientific and cultural exchange. Ms. Xie Chunhua then led the delegation on a tour of ICARE’s cultural wall, highlighting the institute’s founding history, unique educational programs, and international partnerships.

Prof. Luc Taerwe expressed gratitude to HUST for the warm reception. He introduced Ghent University and its international cooperation efforts, specifically the East Asia Platform, and emphasized his commitment to advancing inter-university partnerships, visits, and student exchange programs between Chinese and Belgian institutions.

The participants then engaged in discussions about potential models for collaboration, with both sides expressing a shared vision to deepen exchanges and broaden cooperation in education and research, aiming to complement each other’s strengths and promote mutual development.

Also present at the meeting were Wan Tian, Manager of European &African Partnership of the Office of International Affairs, and Yan Wei, Manager of International Admissions and Cooperation Office, School of International Education. They provided an overview of HUST and the “Study at HUST” program.

Founded in 1817 by King William I of the Netherlands, Ghent University is located in Ghent, a city in the Flemish region of Belgium. It is the top-ranked public research university in Belgium and consistently ranks among the world’s top 100 universities. The East Asia Platform at Ghent University, originally the China Platform, is one of the university’s six major international cooperation platforms and is both the earliest established and fastest-growing of them.