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DCU President visits China as member of the Irish delegation
31 January 2005
On Wednesday 19 January 2005, DCU President, Professor Ferdinand von Prondzynski and Wuhan University President, Professor Liu Jingnan signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Collaboration between the two universities in Beijing. President von Prondzynski was accompanied by Dr Xiaojun Wang of DCU's International Office.
The Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin attended the signing ceremony in Beijing. The Taoiseach's State visit to China and the signing of the Memorandum between Dublin City University and Wuhan University was the main news item on Chinese Central Television's English Channel that evening. Minister Mary Hanafin accepted Professor Liu Jingnan's invitation to visit Wuhan University.
On the same day, Professor von Prondzynski spoke on behalf of the Irish University sector at an Education Round Table co-chaired by the Irish Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin, and the Chinese Minister for Education Zhou Ji.
Wuhan University (http://www.whu.edu.cn/en/index.shtml) is one of the oldest and most prestigious universites in China. It has a history dating back to 1893. A delegation from Wuhan University led by Professor Gu Hailiang, CCP Secretary of Wuhan University, visited DCU in September 2004.
Professor von Prondzynski also met with and introduced the President of Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications (BUPT), Professor Lin Jintong and The President of Hangzhou Dianzi University (HDU), Professor Xue Anke to the Taoiseach Bertie Ahern and the Minister for Education and Science Mary Hanafin.