On March 20, a delegation of 37 representatives from Italy's Asti Province, led by Governor Maurizio Rasero, visited Wuhan University (WHU). The delegation was welcomed by Yuan Yufeng, WHU vice-president, Lin Nan, deputy director of the Hubei Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, and representatives from WHU's Office of International Affairs and School of International Education.

Representatives from WHU and Asti Province gather for a group photo. [Photo by Lin Yangjie]

Maurizio Rasero (R), governor of Italy's Asti Province, presents a gift of wine to Yuan Yufeng, vice-president of WHU. [Photo by Lin Yangjie]  

Yuan provided an overview of WHU's history and global engagement efforts, emphasizing that internationalization is a key strategic priority for the university. He highlighted WHU's strong collaborations with Italian universities and international organizations in literature, science, and international relations. He also hoped that cultural and sports exchanges would help strengthen ties between Chinese and Italian youth, inviting more Italian students to study at WHU.

Governor Rasero expressed his pleasure at returning to WHU and thanked the university for its warm hospitality. He reaffirmed Asti Province’s commitment to strengthening ties with China and noted that this visit aimed to deepen cooperation in cultural heritage, the wine industry, and agricultural innovation. He also expressed interest in expanding student exchange programs between Asti and WHU.

The delegation takes a stroll around the campus. [Photo by Lin Yangjie]

Italian and WHU students pose for a group photo. [Photo by Lin Yangjie]

Sixteen Italian students engaged in in-depth discussions with WHU students and faculty on Chinese and Italian culture and the arts, fostering mutual understanding and cross-cultural dialogue.

Governor Rasero's delegation is in Hubei from March 19 to 23, attending the "Rhythm of the Yangtze & Po Rivers: Sino-Italian Lifestyle Festival" to promote cooperation between Hubei province and Italy's Piedmont region. This marks Rasero's second visit to WHU, following his April 2024 trip, during which he led a delegation for discussions on enhancing educational exchanges between WHU and Asti Province.