14^th April, 2008

A Renmin University delegation led by President Prof. Ji Baocheng participated into the 2008 annual conference of Asia-Pacific Association for International Education （APAIE ）in Japan and visited two Japanese universities from 26^th to 30^th March, 2008.

The 2008 annual conference opened on the morning of 27^th . In the opening ceremony, Prof. Ji delivered an invited talk, addressing the function and responsibility of international exchanges between universities and sent out an oral invitation for the 2009 APAIE annual conference that woulo be held in Beijing. On 28^th, Prof. Tang Zhong, Director of International Office and Board Member of APAIE, chaired a concurrent session of “International Student Policies in Asia-Pacific”, and in this session Hu Juan, Director of Higher Education Research Office, made a presentation with title of “Beyond Internationalization: A challenge to universities in the process of internationalization”. Cheng Xin, Sector Chief of International Office made a speech entitled “Reflection on the internationalization of Renmin University of China and students’ exchange” in the session of “Cultural Differences and Student Experiences”. On the plenary session later that day, Prof. Doo-hee Lee, president of APAIE handed over the association flag to Prof. Ji, which symbolized the official start-up of the preparation for the next annual. On the same day night, as the host of the next annual conference, Prof. Ji made a farewell speech for 2008 conference.

During the conference and exhibition, the delegation members took full advantage of their time to inspect the service work and learn from the organizing experience in order to better prepare for the 2009 conference.

On the afternoon of 27^th, the delegation paid a visit to Keio University, the oldest private comprehensive university in Japan. President of Keio had a deep-going and friendly conversation with Prof. Ji and they signed an agreement in students’ exchange as the supplement of the memorandum signed last November. Before leaving, Prof. Ji inscribed for Keio and its 150 anniversary, “Exchange serves as the characteristic of modern civilization, the bridge of friendship and the bondage of academic prosperity.”

On the morning of 28^th, the delegation visited Meiji University which had established co-operation with Renmin since 1994.

During his stay in Japan, Prof. Ji met with many other Japanese and Korean key figures in education area, for instance, the newly-assumed Korea University President Ki-Su LEE. LEE said Korea University would strictly follow the agreements between the two universities and strive to promote the existing co-operation. Prof Ji expressed his wish for the new achievements of KU in the term of President Ki-Su LEE.

APAIE is one of the most influential and highly respected international higher education organizations in the region. This is its third annual conference that is hosted by Waseda University. 700 attendees from 370 institutes gathered in Japan and 52 institutes joined the exhibition, both making this year the largest session since APAIE’s establishment in 2006. Renmin University is one of the founding members of APAIE and has already won the bid for the 2009 annual conference.

(photos from News Center of Renmin)