On July 28, an overseas practice delegation of Shanghai Jiao Tong University’s “Future Young Leaders · Global Competency Program” visited the Chinese Consulate-General in Melbourne. On behalf of Fang Xinwen, Consul-General of China in Melbourne, Ding Li, Counsellor (Education) of the Consulate-General, received the SJTU delegation and hosted an in-depth seminar.
Led by Professor Zhen Fengchao, Vice Dean of the School of Foreign Languages, the delegation comprises seven outstanding students from five SJTU schools: the School of Foreign Languages, the School of Environmental Science and Engineering, KoGuan Law School, the SJTU-USC Institute of Cultural and Creative Industry, and the China-UK Low Carbon College. During its five-day field study in Melbourne, the team will engage in institutional exchanges, questionnaire surveys, street interviews and other research activities centered on China’s governance philosophy and AI-driven technological advancement.
Professor Zhen Fengchao expressed sincere gratitude to the Chinese Consulate-General and Counsellor Ding Li. He briefed the hosts on the delegation’s composition, research focus and visit objectives, after which student members introduced themselves and shared their academic experiences and career aspirations.
Counsellor Ding Li warmly welcomed the SJTU delegation. She structured her sharing around four defining questions for young people in the new era: original aspiration, contextual awareness, global vision, and mission commitment. Her discussion spanned China’s governance practices, developmental achievements, bilateral relations, and youth development. She noted that the international community widely acknowledges China’s strategic resolve and policy continuity, affirming that cross-civilizational mutual learning serves to strengthen global understanding and cooperative consensus. Emphasizing the demand for interdisciplinary talents in modern diplomatic work, she encouraged students to cultivate strong national dedication, broaden global perspectives, consolidate professional foundations, and refine cross-cultural communication and global competencies, so as to contribute to China-Australia friendly exchanges.
Drawing on his personal study and professional experience in Australia, Huang Chaoyong, Exchange Lead of the Australia-China Youth Dialogue and Cooperation Team Leader of the ASEAN Youth Organization, illustrated the complementary strengths of China and Australia in resources, energy, scientific research, manufacturing, market development and industrial chains. He stressed that robust and sustainable China-Australia relations are underpinned by consistent youth exchanges and mutual trust. He advised students to embrace interdisciplinary learning, actively expand international exposure, and build curiosity, resilience and collaborative skills, so as to deepen bilateral understanding through cross-cultural practice and empower people-to-people friendship and cooperation.
Sun Mengli, Consul at the Chinese Consulate-General in Melbourne, together with Huang Chaoyong, conducted in-depth discussions with the faculty and students on China-Australia cultural exchange and career development. The students shared their on-site observations of Melbourne and exchanged views on the global expansion and cross-cultural management of Chinese enterprises, as well as their personal academic and career plans. The attendees provided detailed responses to students’ questions and commended the delegation’s well-conceived research topics and insightful reflections.
The seminar enabled all delegation members to gain thorough, first-hand insights into China’s distinctive major-country diplomatic approach, the evolution of China-Australia relations, and the pivotal role of youth in people-to-people connectivity. The students remarked that they would fully capitalize on this overseas research opportunity, deepen their understanding of new-quality productive forces and its global influence, deliver high-quality field study summaries and research reports, and continuously upgrade their global competencies. They vowed to contribute SJTU youth’s wisdom and endeavor to international exchanges and the sustained development of China-Australia friendly cooperation.
