HKUST(GZ) Forges Strategic Partnership with University of Bristol

In a landmark celebration of the 25th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Guangzhou and Bristol, The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (Guangzhou) and the University of Bristol in the United Kingdom have signed two agreements on strategic partnership and student exchange.

The agreements were signed on March 23, when Professor Evelyn WELCH, Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Bristol, led a delegation to visit the HKUST(GZ), following a visit to the UK by Professor Lionel NI, President of HKUST(GZ), in June 2025. Both universities also launched the Guangzhou-Bristol Young Ambassador programme.

Accompanying the delegation was Bristol's Lord Mayor Henry MICHALLAT, who, along with Sarah MANN, the British Consul General in Guangzhou, and representatives from the Foreign Affairs Office of Guangzhou Municipal People's Government and Guangzhou Municipal Education Bureau, witnessed the signing ceremony and the inaugural event.

HKUST(GZ) and the University of Bristol co-hosted a high-level roundtable meeting themed "25 Years of City Partnership: University Collaboration as a Catalyst for China-UK Relations", bringing together leading scholars, experienced diplomats, and industry leaders from the fields of higher education, international development, and related industries to engage in in-depth discussions on how universities can enhance bilateral relations.

This key gathering coincides with the recent visit of UK Prime Minister Keir STARMER to China, further underscoring the ongoing development of China-UK relations and promoting cultural exchange.

Prior to the roundtable, Professor NI hosted a breakfast working meeting with Professor WELCH and Mayor MICHALLAT, followed by a substantial discussion on implementing the strategic partnership between the two institutions.

Professor NI noted that this year marks the 25th anniversary of the sister-city relationship between Guangzhou and Bristol, the 35th anniversary of HKUST and the 150th anniversary of the University of Bristol. He expressed his heartfelt gratitude to Professor WELCH and Mayor MICHALLAT for their visit during this milestone.

"One of the key missions of the University of Bristol is to serve the city of Bristol, just as we are committed to supporting the development and prosperity of Guangzhou and the Guangdong-Hong Kong- Macao Greater Bay Area," said Professor NI.

"Our educational philosophies are highly aligned. I firmly believe that by continuously deepening the strategic partnership between our two universities and creatively advancing the Guangzhou-Bristol Young Ambassador programme, we can effectively transform academic cooperation into a sustained momentum for enhancing people-to-people exchanges between China and the UK and solidifying our bilateral friendship. Guangzhou and Bristol will remain friends for generations to come."

Mayor MICHALLAT said he was deeply impressed with the reception he had received.

"Although this is my first visit to China, the warmth and hospitality I have experienced in Guangzhou are a true reflection of the sincere friendship between our cities over the past 25 years," he noted.

"International collaboration in higher education has always been a key driving force for Bristol's development. The potential for cooperation between HKUST(GZ) and the University of Bristol in fields such as engineering, health, and innovation is immense. The Guangzhou-Bristol Young Ambassador programme launched today is a significant opportunity for youth exchanges between our countries."

Professor WELCH praised HKUST(GZ) as a young research university with an admirable spirit of openness, innovation, excellence, and pioneering ambition. She noted that the two universities signed both the strategic partnership agreement and the student exchange agreement, and launched the Young Ambassador program, all within just nine months.

This, she added, demonstrates the University of Bristol's commitment to its strategic partnership with HKUST(GZ) as well as the effectiveness of HKUST(GZ) in expanding international cooperation.

Professor WELCH expressed hope that this milestone collaboration would create more opportunities for student exchanges, expand research collaboration for faculty, and contribute to the building of more platforms for exchanges between the universities of both countries.

Sarah MANN, the British Consul General in Guangzhou, was effusive in her praise of the pacts, their potential and their symbolism in reflecting burgeoning bilateral ties.

"It's truly a pleasure to witness the signing of agreements between these two universities," she said.

"We often say that science knows no borders, and it is heartening to see UK and Chinese institutions working together to advance in the field of technology. The UK has long been committed to supporting international cooperation in higher education. Today's signing ceremony and high-level roundtable meeting are excellent examples of how collaboration in science and education can further deepen UK-China relations."

Witnessed by representatives from the Foreign Affairs Office of Guangzhou Municipal People's Government, Guangzhou Municipal Education Bureau, Bristol City Council, and the British Consulate General in Guangzhou, HKUST(GZ) and the University of Bristol signed a Student Exchange Agreement and a Strategic Partnership Agreement, and launched the Guangzhou-Bristol Young Ambassador program.

The subsequent high-level roundtable meeting, chaired by Michael BENSON, Director of International Relations at the University of Bristol, focused on discussions about innovative cooperation between sister cities and collaboration in education.

Representatives from the University of Bristol also engaged in thematic discussions with faculty from the Financial Technology Thrust and the Bioscience and Biomedical Engineering Thrust. They also hosted a briefing on the student exchange program.