U.S. Ambassador to China Mr. Gary Locke and Mrs. Mona Locke visited Wuhan University on the afternoon of September 22, 2011. Ambassador Locke met with President Li Xiaohong and Vice President Zhou Chuangbing and had an interactive meeting with students of law.

President Li extended the warmest welcome to Ambassador Locke on behalf of Wuhan University. After introducing the University and its international programs, he recalled his experience of studying and researching in the U.S., including taking the Leadership Program at Yale, where Ambassador Locke earned his Bachelor’s Degree of Political Science.

Ambassador Locke expressed his delightedness to visit Wuhan University, because it is a great university with the most beautiful campus and over 50,000 students. He was happy to meet with the brightest students from all over China with their own personalities and dreams. Even when he was Governor of Washington State, he was very interested in higher education. Companies hire bright graduates from university. The research and findings from university attract social investments and create jobs. He believed university has become an important impetus of the economy. University is committed to helping solve critical global problems, such as climate change, dreadful diseases and educating leaders for the economy, research and government. So he was willing to help promote the cooperation and exchanges between Wuhan University and U.S. universities and send more students to study in China during his tenure.

President Li agreed on Ambassador Locke’s ideas on the mission and commitment of university, not only those in China but also in the world. He would take measures to encourage more students from the U.S. and Europe to study at Wuhan University.

After the meeting, Ambassador Locke had an interaction with students of law and answered their questions on Sino-U.S. cultural differences, legal career, visa and trade disputes.

Shortly after Ambassador Locke’s arrival on campus, Mrs. Mona Locke visited the School of Journalism and Communication and had a practice interview with students of the School.