From August 16 to 22, at the invitation of several universities, Ling Qidan, Secretary of the FJU Party Committee, led a delegation to visit multiple higher education institutions in Brazil and Uruguay. The visit aimed to expand the university's cooperation network in Latin America and the Caribbean, with a focus on Confucius Institute development, joint research, faculty and student exchanges, and the cultivation of international joint laboratories. The delegation included representatives from the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, the College of Education, the College of Computer and Cyber Security, the College of Chemistry and Materials Science, and the College of International Education.
São Paulo State University (UNESP), Brazil
Delegation Visits São Paulo State University (UNESP)
At São Paulo State University (UNESP), Rector Pasqual Barretti received the delegation and highlighted the university's disciplinary strengths and distinctive educational features. As a renowned Brazilian institution, UNESP boasts strong programs in engineering, agriculture, life sciences, and the humanities and social sciences, with a long-standing emphasis on research innovation and international cooperation, particularly with China. Secretary Ling reviewed the solid foundation of bilateral cooperation, noting the two universities' joint hosting of the 8th China-Latin America High-Level Academic Forum in 2019. He proposed future collaboration in fields such as mathematical statistics, artificial intelligence, Latin American studies, and Global South education research, while promoting faculty and student exchanges.
Delegation Visits the Confucius Institute at São Paulo State University (UNESP)
During a visit to the university's Confucius Institute, Brazilian Executive Director Braz and Chinese Director Bai Mengxuan explained the "five pillars" underpinning the institute's development: language teaching, cultural events, university-to-university cooperation, university-enterprise collaboration, and translation and publication. Supported by this framework, the institute has registered more than 40,000 students. In 2024, it helped launch the first China-foreign co-established Chinese-language major in Latin America. In 2025, it led the founding of the Brazilian Alliance of Confucius Institutes.
State of Piauí, Brazil
Governor of Piauí Wellington Dias Signs an Official Letter in Support of the Confucius Institute Application
In the State of Piauí, the delegation paid a courtesy call on Governor Wellington Dias, accompanied by Rector Paulo of the State University of Piauí. The Governor signed an official letter of support for the Confucius Institute application on-site, pledging to coordinate state-level resources to ensure operational support for the Institute.
Rector Paulo of the State University of Piauí (UESPI) and the Senior Management Team Meet with Secretary Ling Qidan
At the State University of Piauí, President Paulo and his senior management team met with the delegation. After discussions, the delegation attended the inauguration ceremony of the "Chinese Culture Experience Center," inspected the proposed Confucius Institute location, and visited Chinese language classrooms. Both sides held thorough discussions on the Confucius Institute application timeline, requirements, supporting documentation, and division of responsibilities, reaching consensus on a "Chinese + STEM" approach as the Institute's distinctive orientation. Over ten heads of educational institutions and primary and secondary school principals were invited to the event and engaged in lively exchanges with the delegation regarding potential collaboration on Chinese language teaching. The delegation also toured the university's laboratories and held preliminary discussions on joint research directions.
University of the Republic of Uruguay
Rector Cancela of the University of the Republic, Uruguay Presents a Souvenir to Secretary Ling Qidan
At the University of the Republic of Uruguay, President Rodrigo Arim Cancela chaired the meeting and shared the experience of establishing the China–Uruguay Joint Laboratory of Bionanopharmaceuticals. The two sides held in-depth discussions on disciplinary collaboration and academic exchanges, covering cooperation prospects in engineering and technology, chemistry and materials science, computing and artificial intelligence, and the humanities and education. The delegation expressed its willingness to establish substantive cooperative relationships in relevant disciplines, leverage Spanish language program strengths to advance joint talent cultivation, and build on the outcomes of the "Uruguay-Fujian Week" activities to further deepen people-to-people exchanges between China and Uruguay. At the university's Confucius Institute, Vice President and Uruguayan Director Seoane and Chinese Director Lou Yongqiang reported that since its inauguration in 2017, the Institute has enrolled over 3,000 registered students and has grown into a comprehensive platform integrating teaching, cultural dissemination, research, and think tank services.
Technological University of Uruguay (UTEC)
Delegation Visits the Technological University of Uruguay (UTEC)
At the Technological University of Uruguay (UTEC), Central Management Committee member Álvaro met with the delegation and provided a detailed account of the university's experience in applying for a Confucius Institute with a Chinese partner, covering document preparation, cooperative foundation building, high-level visit facilitation, and agreement signing. The two sides exchanged views on joint research in materials science, artificial intelligence, and cyber security, and explored possibilities for international Chinese language education collaboration, joint Spanish-language talent cultivation, faculty and student exchanges, and industry-academia-research cooperation.
Diplomatic Engagement
He Fei, Chargé d’Affaires ad interim of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in the Oriental Republic of Uruguay, Meets with the Delegation
During the visit, the delegation also paid a courtesy call on He Fei, Chargé d'Affaires Ad Interim of the Embassy of the People's Republic of China in Uruguay. Secretary Ling reported on the university's progress in educational cooperation with Latin America, and He Fei offered strategic recommendations regarding Confucius Institute development pathways and area studies, based on the current state of China-Uruguay relations and trends in Latin American cooperation.
Outcomes
This visit effectively enhanced mutual understanding between FJU and its Brazilian and Uruguayan counterparts, producing clear consensus on cooperation in jointly establishing Confucius Institutes, collaborative research, and faculty and student exchange programs. It has laid a new foundation for expanding the university's cooperation network in Latin America and the Caribbean and advancing its internationalization efforts.