Date: Oct. 24       
Author：Liu Jiaxin  
Photographer: Han Ziyao and Liu Jiaxin
Source: Jinan University-University of Birmingham Joint Institute at Jinan University

Guangzhou Vice Mayor Wang Dong; British Consul General He Songya; Prof Sir David Eastwood, chancellor of the University of Birmingham, and JNU President Song Xianzhong planted a Delonix regia, or royal poinciana, tree symbolizing long-lasting friendship on Panyu Campus on Oct. 23. JNU Vice President Zhang Hong hosted the activity.

 
Scene of the planting activity

Zhang expressed his heartfelt gratitude to the leaders of Guangzhou for their support in developing the Jinan University-University of Birmingham Joint Institute at JNU and extended a warm welcome to the Birmingham delegation. He pointed out that the friendship between the two universities dated back to the friendship between the two cities, consolidated through mutual trust in their frequent cooperation and exchange. He also noted that they will work continuously to build the Joint Institute into a center for integrating Sino-British education, students' cross-border mobility, talent introduction, scientific research cooperation and cultural exchange in South China and throughout China to contribute to the construction of the Belt and Road initiative and the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.
The representatives planted the tree as a symbol of the evergreen friendship between the two cities.
 

Representatives planting the tree together

On the same day, the government and the University of Birmingham signed a memorandum of understanding on further cooperation between the two universities and renewed the cooperation framework agreement. The signing signifies that relations and exchanges between the cities have reached a new stage.