BEIJING, March 13, 2026 — Duan Peng, President of Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU), met with Italian Ambassador to China H.E. Massimo Ambrosetti and Dario Grandoni, Chairman of the Fondazione Internazionale Matteo Ricci, along with their respective delegations at BLCU. The two sides held in-depth discussions on cooperation regarding the establishment of the BLCU Italian Campus and other initiatives, followed by a signing ceremony.
During the meeting, President Duan noted that BLCU's partnership with Italy has a long and solid history. To date, BLCU has established cooperative relationships with 13 Italian universities and educational institutions, having trained over 10,000 Italian students in total. The official inauguration of the Matteo Ricci Sinology Center in 2025 will further deepen collaboration between the two sides in Sinology studies, Chinese language education, and cultural exchanges.
Looking ahead, BLCU will expedite the establishment of the BLCU Italian Campus, continue expanding Sino-Italian language education cooperation, and develop the "BLCU Mutual Learning Among Civilizations Theme Park," positioning it as a showcase for cultural exchange between China and Italy.
Ambassador Ambrosetti noted that the educational practices of Beijing Language and Culture University (BLCU) fully demonstrate that university cooperation is a key pillar of China-Italy exchanges and a vital vehicle for implementing the high-level consensus reached by the two countries. He expressed hope that BLCU will continue to leverage its unique strengths in language teaching and international exchange, further promote mutual visits, joint education programs, and research cooperation between teachers and students of the two countries, deepen mutual understanding through language learning, and contribute to the vitality of bilateral relations.
Chairman Grandoni noted that amid the complex international situation, upholding win-win cooperation is a shared responsibility for both sides. He expressed the hope that the two sides would take the interactions between Matteo Ricci and Xu Guangqi as a model, consistently uphold the spirit of mutual respect and sincere cooperation, and pass on this precious legacy from generation to generation.
Witnessed by Ambassador Ambrosetti, President Duan Peng and Chairman Grandoni officially signed the cooperation agreement. This signing deepens the practical collaboration between the two parties, consolidates long-standing achievements in exchange, and establishes a higher-level platform for Sino-Italian academic exchanges, research cooperation, and cultural dissemination. This marks a significant step in advancing BLCU's internationalization strategy.
（Editors: Fu Dongyu, He Yuqi）
