On the afternoon of November 23, the online signing ceremony of collaboration agreements between Xidian university and Lancaster University was held successfully. Vice President Zhang Jincheng and Steve Bradley, Deputy Vice-Chancellor of Lancaster University attended the conference and signed the Collaborative Framework Agreement, a Double Masters Program (1+1+1) Agreement and Study Abroad Program Agreement. Li Yachao, Vice Dean of the Graduate School, Zhang Yang, Vice Dean of the School of International Education as well as Xu Zhanli, Chairperson of the Council of School of Foreign Languages, Ma Gang, Executive Dean of the School of Foreign Languages and other relevant leaders were all present at the ceremony. Guo Tong, Vice Director of the Division of International Cooperation and Exchanges, presided over the ceremony.

Zhang Jincheng, on behalf of Xidian University, expressed thanks to the participants from both institutions. He introduced the history, discipline characteristics and international development of the University in recent years. He said that after previous discussion, Xidian University and Lancaster University reached a consensus on cooperation and today's online signing chartered a new course of cooperation. In the future, the two universities should give full play to their advantages, expand fields of collaboration and launch in-depth cooperation in talent training and scientific research in an attempt to promote win-win development of both sides. He also sincerely invited President Steve Bradley to lead a delegation to visit Xidian.

Bradley expressed appreciation for Xidian as it attaches great importance to the cooperation with Lancaster University. He stated that Lancaster has pursued cooperation with the best universities in the world to promote common development. He believes that Xidian and Lancaster enjoy a solid cooperation foundation, and the two universities have distinct advantages in engineering disciplines. It is hoped that the two sides can work together and make active explorations in promoting the interdisciplinary integration of engineering science and language disciplines in the future with an aim to produce first-class achievements.

Magang, Executive Dean of the School of Foreign Languages, Dr. Derek Hird, Head of the Department of Languages and Cultures, Lancaster University, and Zeng Jinghan, Academic Director of China Engagement, Lancaster University, delivered speeches at the ceremony. They spoke highly of the previous fruitful results of the two universities and looked forward to deepening their cooperation.

Finally, Steve Bradley and Zhang Jincheng completed the signing of the agreement on behalf of the two institutions in a friendly atmosphere.

As is known, Lancaster University is world-renowned with its academic reputation. It has been rated as the UK's excellent research university many times, ranking the 132nd in the 2022QS World University Ranking. In the past two years, the School of Foreign Languages of Xidian University and Lancaster University have conducted a series of cooperative programs on the "Belt and Road" Initiative, laying a good foundation for the in-depth cooperation between the two universities.