To further implement the spirit of the instructions given by Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee when he inspected IMU and promote and widen the cooperation and exchange of IMU with the world first-class universities and research institutions, a delegation of IMU led by Liu Zhiyu paid a visit to Cambridge University from September 19 to 23 at the invitation of the university. The delegation also included Wu Yingzhe, dean of the School of Mongolian Studies of IMU, Duan Manfu, deputy director of the Division of International Cooperation and Exchange of IMU and Hurle Baater, special-term professor of IMU.

The delegation visited the Mongolia and Inner Asia Studies Unit(MIASU) of the Department of Social Anthropology of Cambridge University and had discussions and exchange with Prof. David Sneath, director of the unit and other researchers of the unit about the cooperation with IMU. And two sides reached an agreement on sending their own researchers to the other for academic studies. David Sneath and Wu Yingzhe signed the cooperation agreement.

Cooperation agreement signing

Wu Yingzhe gave MIASU a lecture titled “A Study of Khitan Language in China and Other Countries in Recent 100 Years” which gave an all-around introduction to the achievements made in the research of Khitan language in recent 100 years in terms of the nature of Khitan language, related research materials and academic exchanges, major researchers, research methodologies, development of research platforms and vision for the future studies. The lecture was chaired by David Sneath and Duan Manfu interpreted the lecture.

During the visit, the delegation visited East Asian Reading Room, Aoi Pavilion, examined the documents of ancient China collected in the room and discussed the cooperation between two sides on the studies of ancient documents collected in the libraries of two universities. In addition, the delegation visited the Needham Research Institute and listened to the introduction of the researchers of the institute to the history of the development of Chinese science, technologies and medicines. They also paid a visit to Gourdon Institute and Sanger Institute which is the largest research institute for bioinformation in Europe. Liu Zhiyu visited Wu Baojiang, special-term associate research fellow of the School of Life Sciences of IMU who is studying at Gourdon Institute as a visiting scholar. He talked with Wu about his scientific research and life at Cambridge University and encouraged him to endeavor to improve his scientific research to go back to IMU to promote its “Double-First” development.