XAUAT News Network: On June 28, 2023 Vice President Zhang Xiaohui met and signed an MoU with Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Shahir Liew, Deputy Vice Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP) in Malaysia. Persons in charge of the School of Civil Engineering, School of Resources Engineering, and Office of International Affairs were also present at the meeting.

     Zhang Xiaohui cordially welcomed Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Shahir Liew’s visit to XAUAT. He briefly introduced the preparation of the Silk Road International Alliance of Architectural and Technological Universities (SRIAATU). He invited Liew to join the inaugurating meeting of the “Alliance” to be held in October this year at XAUAT. Zhang also noted that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Malaysia in 1974, the two countries have yielded fruitful achievements in the field of higher education; XAUAT and UTP also have higher compatibilities in multiple disciplines. It’s hoped that this meeting will serve as a great opportunity for the two institutions to pursue partnership and mutual development.  

Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Shahir Liew highly praised SRIAATU, proposed by XAUAT. He also briefly introduced UTP’s mission statement, schools and departments, and international exchange and cooperation. It’s hoped that through this visit, the two institutions could embark on academic exchange among faculties and students, research collaboration, and cooperation in the conservation of relics. Liew pointed out that China’s prosperity is seen as a significant opportunity for Southeast Asian countries, even the entire world. Xi’an is a city full of history and culture and the starting point of the “Silk Road”. It’s hoped that under the background of jointly contributing to the “Belt and Road Initiative” and the good initiative of establishing the “Alliance”, XAUAT and UTP would launch cooperation in multi-disciplinaries, so both could mutually benefit and achieve a win-win situation.  

The two institutions signed a MoU for intercollegiate cooperation at the meeting. Both agreed that under the framework of the “Alliance” and in accordance with mutual benefit, XAUAT and UTP shall cooperate in talent cultivation and scientific research.

Prof. Ir. Dr. Mohd Shahir Liew then visited the Key Lab of Structure and Earthquake Resistance housed in the School of Civil Engineering, Architecture Square, and Caotang Campus of XAUAT.