On the morning of November 9, the China-Italy University Presidents’ Dialogue was held at Peking University. Jointly organized by the Ministry of Education of the People’s Republic of China and the Ministry of Universities and Research of the Italian Republic, the dialogue was themed "Promoting Inter-Civilizational Understanding and Cultivating Outstanding Talent." It included two parallel forums and invited representatives from 45 universities from China and Italy to discuss cooperation in higher education, collaborative innovation, and high-level talent development models between the two countries.

At the opening ceremony, Huai Jinpeng, China’s Minister of Education, attended and delivered a speech, while Anna Maria Bernini, Italy’s Minister of Universities and Research, gave a video address. The opening ceremony was hosted by Chen Jie, China’s Vice Minister of Education.

Lin Mao introduced to the attendees how the Central Academy of Fine Arts, guided by President Xi Jinping’s letter to the academy’s senior professors, is committed to cultivating students with "great love" and creating "masterpieces with enduring beauty." He emphasized the academy’s dedication to building a modern structure for fine arts education, exploring the development of an art education system with Chinese characteristics, and advancing global exchanges and cooperation in art education. Lin stated that the Central Academy of Fine Arts would fully implement President Xi’s guidance on deepening the international openness of education and balancing the principles of "bringing in" and "going out." The academy aims to showcase the vibrancy and allure of Chinese culture and art education worldwide, foster a new framework for international exchange and cooperation, and actively engage in high-quality, widely disseminated international cultural exchanges. The academy also intends to strengthen its “Study at CAFA” international education brand and to explore common issues in art education within a global context. Lin expressed hope for increased exchanges between CAFA and Italian institutions, with mutual learning in areas of expertise, educational models, societal engagement, and shared resources. He envisions that such cooperation will further the integration of art and technology, contributing significantly to cultural development and educational advancement in both countries and beyond.

One day before, on Nov. 8,Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian President Sergio Mattarella on Friday jointly met with representatives attending the China-Italy Cultural Cooperation Mechanism Conference and the Dialogue between Chinese and Italian University Presidents in Beijing. Lin Mao attended the meeting.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Italian President Sergio Mattarella pose for a group photo with representatives attending the China-Italy Cultural Cooperation Mechanism Conference and the Dialogue between Chinese and Italian University Presidents prior to their joint meeting with the representatives in Beijing, capital of China, Nov. 8, 2024. (Xinhua/Shen Hong)