On Nov 14, Liu Gang, a senior official from Asia and the Pacific Department of the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO), visited Beijing International Studies University (BISU), where he was warmly received by Zheng Chengjun, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC BISU Committee and vice-president of the university.

Zheng Chengjun (right), a member of the Standing Committee of the CPC BISU Committee and vice-president of the university, meets Liu Gang on Nov 14.

During the meeting, Zheng emphasized the university's commitment to collaborating with UNWTO. He said the university is developing into a high-level foreign language institution with a focus on cultural exchange in a new era.

Strengthening ties with UNWTO and enhancing the training of talents for international organizations is integral to the university's strategic development. Zheng proposed three initiatives to deepen cooperation with UNWTO: enhancing talent training in international organizations particularly in "Chinese Language + Tourism"; recommending more university faculty to join UNWTO's pool of international experts; and deepening project collaboration, including joint research and academic development, such as establishing research centers.

Liu thanked the university for its hospitality and remarked that it is one of the most practical and closely cooperating domestic universities with UNWTO. He expressed willingness to introduce more experts from the university into UNWTO's international expert database and strengthen collaboration in areas like student internships, course training, senior visiting groups, and joint education programs.

Yu Gang, director of the International Exchange and Cooperation Office, reported on the university's cooperation with UNWTO, including discussions on educational collaborations, online training programs in "Chinese + Tourism," participation in the Global UNWTO Students League, and attendance at UNWTO General Assembly in Uzbekistan.

Lyu Ning, dean of the School of Tourism Sciences, introduced the university's distinctive strengths in tourism studies, noting that six majors received the highest level and longest duration of UNWTO accreditation in tourism education in 2020, reflecting the university's international caliber in this field.

Zhong Li'na, executive dean of the Institute of Chinese Culture and Tourism Big Data and professor at the School of Tourism Sciences, shared her experience as the first Chinese international tourism planning expert for UNWTO. She was involved in the international tourism destination planning for Jinan city in Shandong province. She also spoke at the 25th session of the UNWTO General Assembly themed "World Tourism Trends and Their Impact on Central Asia."

A group photo

The meeting marked a significant step in strengthening the university's global engagement and expertise in tourism education and research.