Fudan University Establishes New Research Centre in Denmark

The 10th of April, Fudan University signed an agreement with the University of Copenhagen to open “Fudan-European Centre for China Studies” in Shanghai. Ambassador Friis Arne Petersen and Consul General Karsten Ankjær Jensen attended the opening ceremony in Shanghai.

The Centre Builds a Bridge to and from Europe
With Fudan-European Centre for China Studies at the University of Copenhagen, Danish and European researchers will get a new platform to develop a greater understanding of Chinese culture. Chinese researchers and students will get a new window to learn more about European culture and the interaction between the two parts of the world.

”I am very pleased as the new centre will strengthen Danish research collaboration with China. China is a very important growth nation and a signification partner for Denmark. Our knowledge about China and Chinese culture has great importance for both the Danish knowledge institutions and for Danish business and exports,” says Morten Østergaard, the Danish Minister for Science, Innovation and Higher Education.

The establishment of the centre is based on the notion that research is a two-way street with focus on both European and Chinese studies. Fudan University appoints Professor Liu Chunrong as Deputy Director, and, Director of Nordic Institute of Asian Studies at the University of Copenhagen, Geir Helgesen, will be the Danish Director of the centre. To begin with, the main focus of the collaboration is within the social sciences.
   
Why Collaborate with Copenhagen and Denmark?
Fudan University has collaborated with the University of Copenhagen over the past 15 years and with its strategic focus on Asian studies and prime location in Europe, it was an obvious choice for the location of the new centre.

“It has been an honour working with the University of Copenhagen and establish the first Fudan-European Centre. We hope that the centre will function as a bridge as well as a platform for the exchange of knowledge between European and Chinese researchers,” says Yang Yuliang, President of Fudan University.

“At the University of Copenhagen, we have focused strategically on research on Asia for years. The new centre will strengthen the University’s research considerably and give us a prominent position in Europe in this large and very important field,” says Ralf Hemmingsen, Rector of the University of Copenhagen.

The 10th of April an official ceremony marking the signing was held at Fudan University in Shanghai between Fudan University and the University of Copenhagen. The Ambassador of Denmark to China, Friis Arne Petersen, and Consul General in Shanghai, Karsten Ankjær Jensen, were present at the signing as well as the representatives from Innovation Centre Denmark in Shanghai. The latter has been instrumental to the process of aligning the interests of the two universities.

“The purpose of the Innovation Centre’s presence in China is to build bridges and to foster collaboration between our countries within the field of innovation, research and higher education. What could be more satisfying than to witness two of China’s and Denmark’s most prominent universities signing an agreement and stepping up their collaboration?” says Lars Christensen, Innovation Attaché at Innovation Centre Denmark.



The Ambassador of Denmark to China, Friis Arne Petersen gives a congratulatory speech at the signing ceremony at Fudan University.

“Denmark gives high priority to China and has built many important knowledge-based bridges towards China in recent years. I am therefore very happy to see that one of the most prominent universities in China teams up with one of the most prominent Danish ones within a very important research area” said Ambassador Petersen.

The Opening
In Copenhagen, Denmark, the Fudan-European Centre kicks off with a conference on China’s current political and economic challenges on April 15th 2013, and with an opening of the centre on April 16th 2013. A Chinese delegation led by the Vice President of Fudan University will travel to Denmark, and the Ambassador of China in Denmark, the Danish Minister for Science, Innovation and Higher Education and representatives from the University of Copenhagen will be participating in the opening.