From July 27 to August 1, 2025, Professor Li Lu, President of Shuren University, led a delegation to Sri Lanka at the invitation of Senior Professor Pathmalal Managhi, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (hereinafter referred to as “USJ”). The delegation included Professor Wan Guowei, Director of the Office of International Affairs; Professor Yan Hong, Dean of the School of Economics and Management; Professor Zhang Zhengrong, Associate Professor Yin Shanshan, Vice Dean of Shulan International Medical College; and Associate Professor Sun Yanyan, Vice Dean of the School of Humanities and Foreign Languages. They visited Sri Lanka to participate in the Academic Symposium on “China-Sri Lanka Silk Road Synergistic Development: Collaborative Cooperation in Environment, Health, Culture, Language, and Digital Economy”, jointly organized by Shuren University and the USJ, and the unveiling ceremony of the China-Sri Lanka Friendship Silk Road Academy. The student study group in Sri Lanka, led by Professor Huang Qiubo, Vice Dean of the School of Economics and Management, and Dr. Wang Heyi of the School of Humanities and Foreign Languages, and composed of 22 students of our university, actively participated in all the academic activities throughout the symposium. During the visit, the organizing committees from both universities also arranged for President Li Lu and the delegation to conduct field research on key projects of the Belt and Road Initiative, including the Colombo Port City. The visit concluded with significant achievements.
Photo: Delegation Warmly Received by the Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura and His Team at Colombo Airport
I. Deepening Cooperation and Jointly Planning New Developments for the “Belt and Road” Initiative through Academic Symposium
The International Academic Symposium on “China-Sri Lanka Silk Road Synergistic Development: Collaborative Cooperation in Environment, Health, Culture, Language, and Digital Economy” was grandly held at the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ). The Symposium commenced with a traditional “Oil Lamp Lighting Ceremony” of Sri Lanka, symbolizing the transmission of light and wisdom.
Photo: President Li Lu Lighting the Lamp
Photo: Opening Ceremony
President Li Lu delivered a keynote report titled “Inheriting Thousands of Years of China-Sri Lanka Friendship, Building a Model of South-South Cooperation”. In his report, Li Lu systematically reviewed the history of cooperation between China and Sri Lanka, from the ancient Maritime Silk Road to the modern “Belt and Road” Initiative. He particularly emphasized that educational cooperation serves as a bridge for mutual learning among civilizations and an engine for promoting South-South Cooperation. He also detailed the decade-long cooperative achievements between Shuren University and the USJ in the report, and outlined future cooperation prospects in fields such as digital economy and environmental health, receiving high praise from experts and scholars attending the Symposium. Professor Managhi, Vice-Chancellor of USJ, stated that President Li has pointed out the direction for our future cooperation in his report. The universities in Sri Lanka would look forward to deeper exchanges and cooperation with Chinese institutions.”
Photo: President Li Lu Delivering the Keynote Report
The attendees, including Professor Managhi, Professor Sirilal, Professor Weerasinghe, Professor Liyanage, and Mr. Rasapura from the USJ, along with Professor Yan Hong, Professor Wan Guowei, Professor Zhang Zhengrong, Associate Professor Yin Shanshan, and Associate Professor Sun Yanyan, as well as other experts and scholars of our university, delivered plenary speeches respectively. Their speeches covered topics such as the Maritime Silk Road and the “Belt and Road” Initiative cooperation, rural e-commerce, digital economy, cultural communication, and environmental health. They also engaged in in-depth discussions and extensive exchanges on the above cooperative themes.
Photo: Other Representatives from Our University Delivering Academic Reports
During the symposium, both universities jointly released the Chinese and English versions of the book, China-Sri Lanka Economic and Trade Investment Cooperation, authored by scholars from both universities. This book comprehensively and deeply introduces the extensive interactions between China and Sri Lanka in international trade, international investment, and international economic cooperation. It particularly analyzes the demonstrative effect and far-reaching impact of bilateral economic and trade investment cooperation within the framework of the “Belt and Road” Initiative between China and Sri Lanka, marking a significant milestone in academic cooperation between the two universities.
Photo: Releasing the Chinese and English Versions of China-Sri Lanka Economic and Trade Investment Cooperation Authored by Chinese and Sri Lankan Scholars
II. “China-Sri Lanka Friendship Silk Road Academy” Officially Inaugurated, Establishing a New Platform for International Cooperation
As a significant outcome of this visit, the two universities jointly held the launching ceremony for the “China-Sri Lanka Friendship Silk Road Academy”. Witnessed by faculty and students from both universities, President Li Lu and Vice-Chancellor Managhi signed the Letter of Intent for Collaborative Agreement on the Joint Establishment of the “China-Sri Lanka Friendship Silk Road Academy” between Zhejiang Shuren University and the University of Sri Jayewardenepura. Following the signing, they jointly unveiled the plaque for the Academy.
Photo: The Launching Ceremony of Silk Road Academy: Presidents of both universities signing the Letter of Intent for Collaborative Agreement on the Joint Establishment of the Silk Road Academy, and Unveiling the Plaque
The “Silk Road Academy” is an international education cooperation platform jointly established by Shuren University and the University of Sri Jayewardenepura in response to the “Belt and Road” Initiative. It will leverage preponderant disciplines such as medicine and pharmacy, biological environment, economic management, and foreign languages and humanities to promote the cooperation on talent cultivation in disciplines such as economics and management, and biological environment. In the future, both universities will also strengthen collaboration on master’s and doctoral programs. President Li Lu stated, “Since establishing our cooperative relationship in 2015, both universities have achieved fruitful results in faculty and student exchanges, joint curriculum development, and scientific research cooperation. The establishment of the Silk Road Academy marks a new stage in our cooperation”. Vice-Chancellor Managhi agreed with Li Lu and emphasized, “The Silk Road Academy will become an important platform for deepening cooperation between our two universities, providing strong support for cultivating interdisciplinary talents with global perspectives.” The Silk Road Academy Establishment Program of Zhejiang Province aims to support high-level educational cooperation between universities in Zhejiang Province and countries along the “Belt and Road” Initiative, serving the “going out” strategy. The joint establishment of the Silk Road Academy by Shuren University and the USJ signifies a new milestone in internationalized education and injects new impetus for Zhejiang Province to deepen academic cooperation with the South Asian region.
III. Aligning with Industry Needs, and Deepening Integration of Industry and Education
The organizing committees of both universities arranged for the delegation to conduct on-site research at key China-Sri Lanka cooperation projects: the Colombo International Container Terminal (CICT) and Colombo Port City. At CICT, the delegation was warmly received by CEO Zhang Jianhui, Deputy CEO An Yang, Guo Zhen, Head of the Administrative Department, and Jiang Xin, Senior Manager of Marketing and Business. Mr. Zhang and his team provided a detailed overview of the terminal’s operation. As the first deep-water container terminal in Sri Lanka and a significant shipping hub in South Asia, CICT has become a benchmark in the global port industry due to its world-class facilities, efficient operation and management, and excellent international services, powerfully energizing the economic and social development of Sri Lanka. The delegation engaged in in-depth discussions with the enterprises on topics such as talent cultivation, internships, and employment, and reached preliminary cooperation intentions.
Photo: Delegation Visiting CICT for Research, and Attending a Discussion Meeting
Photo: Delegation Visiting the Colombo International Container Terminal
At Colombo Port City, Tian Zheng, General Manager of the Department of Investment Promotion and Marketing of CHEC Port City Colombo (PVT) Ltd., introduced the grand blueprint of this key project of the “Belt and Road” Initiative jointly built by China and Sri Lanka. It is estimated that upon completion, the project will create over 400,000 job opportunities. President Li Lu stated, “The Silk Road Academy will actively align with corporate demands, cultivating and delivering international talent for project construction.” Both parties expressed their commitment to strengthening cooperation around the construction projects of the “Belt and Road” Initiative in the future, striving to make early and fruitful achievements.
Photo: Delegation Visiting Colombo Port City
IV. Jointly Charting a New Silk Road Blueprint, and Opening a New Chapter of Cooperation
At the closing ceremony of the academic symposium, Professor Li Lu, Professor Ye Shiping, Professor Chen Jun, and Professor Liu Weiping of our university were awarded honorary professorship certificates by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, witnessed by the deans of various faculties, members of the Academic Committee, and the Innovation and Entrepreneurship Committee of the USJ.
Photo: President Li Lu Awarded Honorary Professorship Certificate by the University of Sri Jayewardenepura
In the address of gratitude, Professor Managi, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Sri Jayewardenepura, highly praised the fruitful achievements of the decade-long cooperation between the two universities, expressing great expectations for the newly established Silk Road Academy and the Chinese Language and Culture Exchange Center. In his speech of thanks, President Li Lu said, “Over the past four days, we have jointly witnessed the inauguration ceremony of the China-Sri Lanka Friendship Silk Road Academy, listened to intellectual exchanges spanning environment, health, culture, and digital economy, and observed the mutual learning of language and culture among students from both universities, as well as the exchange and display of artistic talents and performances. The concept of extensive consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits of the ‘Belt and Road’ Initiative has been vividly practiced and promoted here.” President Li Lu extended special thanks to the teams involved in establishing the Silk Road Academy from both universities. Through their diligent efforts and commitment to innovation while preserving tradition, the bridge of friendship, spanning a thousand years, has begun to show the new spirit of win-win cooperation in the new era of the “Belt and Road” Initiative. He hoped that through profound cooperation, both universities would jointly advance higher education and embark on a new chapter for the “Maritime Silk Road” in the future!
Local media reported on this exchange and cooperation between the two universities.
During their visit, the delegation led by President Li Lu also visited the International Joint Laboratory for Environmental Exposure and Health, the Chinese Language and Culture Exchange Center, and the Digital Trade Innovation Center, all established through cooperation between Shuren University and the University of Sri Jayewardenepura (USJ). Associate Professor Yin Shanshan and others gave reports on the cooperative achievements. Professor Yan Hong, Professor Huang Qiubo, Professor Zhang Zhengrong, and Dr. Wang Heyi delivered lectures to undergraduate and postgraduate students of Sri Lanka at the “Chinese Language and Culture Workshop” and the “New E-commerce Development and Operations Workshop in the Context of the Digital Economy”. These lectures covered topics such as Chinese culture, the development of new e-commerce logistics, e-commerce development trends, and China’s digital economy development, thus initiating the talent cultivation and cultural exchange chapters of the Silk Road Academy.
Photo: Themed Lectures and Training Activities of Silk Road Academy
At the Chinese Language and Culture Exchange Center, students from our university participating in this academic visit performed a tea art show and a traditional Hanfu (Chinese attire) show for the leaders and faculty from both universities. They also engaged in cultural exchanges such as calligraphy and fan painting with students of the USJ. In return, the students of the USJ presented dance and other artistic performances for the faculty and students of our university.
