Renmin U, Luiss U of Italy sign strategic partnership

Renmin University of China and Luiss University from Italy signed a five-year comprehensive strategic partnership on Friday to promote exchange and cooperation between the Chinese and Italian entrepreneurial, professional and institutional communities.

The two universities agreed to launch a double degree for a master's program in Global Management and Politics and establish a Chinese Library within Luiss University.

Liu Wei, president of Renmin University of China, said the signing of the comprehensive strategic partnership agreement is not only an important event for the two universities to adapt to the development of the times and inject a strong impetus into the exchange of higher education between China and Italy, but also a concrete embodiment of promoting the culture of the two countries.

"A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single step," Liu said.

RUC is willing to work with Luiss University to further deepen student exchanges and academic cooperation, work hand in hand to promote the construction of a platform in the field of humanities and social sciences education worldwide, inject more epochal connotations and momentum into the development of Sino-Italian and even worldwide higher education in the new era, and start a new chapter for the lasting friendship between China and Italy, he said.

Michele Geraci, undersecretary of state of the Italian Ministry of Economic Development, said: "I'm particularly proud of this agreement signed by two top universities with a high potential development characterized by a very similar vision and a strong identity in the social sciences."

Luiss Rector Andrea Prencipe said that the partnership with RUC strengthens the university's internationalization process in China, which, since 2006, has allowed 500 Italian and Chinese students to experience higher education in both countries.

"Luiss is educating a generation of cosmopolitan professionals who are conscious of their roots but flexible and open-minded, who can interact with different cultures and worlds. Now, more than ever, it is essential to be able to think and act without limits."