On the morning of March 19^th, Pascal Buffin, the new Belgian Consul General in Shanghai, visited Zhejiang Gongshang University (ZJSU). The delegation was accompanied by Zhou Lewei, First Officer of the European Affairs Division, Zhejiang Foreign Affairs Department. President Wang Yonggui met with the guests, with relevant staff from ZJSU International Office in attendance.

President Wang Yonggui extended a warm welcome to Consul General Buffin and gave a brief introduction to ZJSU's development and disciplinary characteristics, particularly highlighting the university's cooperation and exchanges with HOWEST University of Applied Sciences. He emphasized that ZJSU has been committed to promoting international exchanges and cooperation. Since jointly establishing the Confucius Institute with HOWEST in 2012, both institutions have achieved mutual progress and common development in international Chinese language education, dissemination of Chinese culture, and cultivation of talents in Chinese business studies. President Wang hoped that this visit would facilitate cooperation with other Belgian universities under the Consul General's support, deepening collaboration in education, scientific research, and cultural exchanges between Zhejiang Province and Belgium. He also stressed the commitment to cultivating talents with global vision and making greater contributions to Sino-Belgian relations.

Consul General Buffin expressed gratitude for the warm reception and spoke highly of ZJSU's achievements in international education and its cooperation with HOWEST. In light of the uncertainties in global geopolitics nowadays, he emphasized the crucial role of educational cooperation as a bridge for people-to-people exchanges and cultural understanding. The Consul General pledged to promote educational collaboration between Belgian universities and ZJSU, support cooperative programs in faculty-student exchanges, joint research, and cultural communication, thus building a broader platform for Sino-Belgian educational cooperation.

Following the meeting, the delegation visited our campus and ZJSU History Museum. Through the museum's exhibits, Consul General Buffin gained in-depth understanding of ZJSU's century-long history, educational philosophy, and significant achievements. He appreciated for the university's accomplishments in talent cultivation, scientific research, and social services, and shared expectations for ZJSU's future development.