Beijing – Irish Ambassador to China Nicholas O’Brien visited Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) on June 23, 2025 and met with Zhao Gang, Vice President of BFSU, to discuss new avenues for collaboration in education and culture.
During the meeting, Zhao outlined BFSU’s strengths in disciplines, talent cultivation, and international engagement, and reviewed recent outcomes of cooperation with Irish partners. He thanked the Embassy of Ireland in China for its sustained support and expressed interest in expanding faculty and student exchanges, exploring shared teaching resources, and advancing joint research initiatives.
Ambassador O’Brien praised BFSU’s achievements in teaching, research, talent development, and area studies, and acknowledged the university’s longstanding commitment to teaching and research on Irish language and culture. He noted that the Embassy would continue to support the development of the Irish Studies Center at BFSU and further strengthen people-to-people exchanges between China and Ireland.
Ambassador Nicholas O’Brien meets with Vice President Zhao Gang at BFSU to discuss expanded collaboration in teaching, exchange, and research.
Following the meeting, Ambassador O’Brien toured the BFSU Library and the School of English and International Studies’ Irish Studies Center, where he engaged with faculty and students. Conversations covered topics such as China–Ireland cultural interaction, the reception of Irish literature in China, collaborative projects in Irish music, inter-university summer programs, and support for Irish-language resources. The Ambassador concluded the visit by donating a set of books to the Center.
BFSU’s School of English and International Studies (SEIS) hosts a network of research centers—including the Irish Studies Center—that anchor the School’s portfolio in literature, linguistics, translation studies, and area studies.
Conversation with students and faculty at the Irish Studies Center explores Irish literature in China and Irish-language resources.
Participants
● From the Embassy of Ireland in China: Lucy Ward, Counsellor for Education and Culture; Bai Han, Program Officer.
● From BFSU: Yang Luxin, Dean of the School of English and International Studies; Peng Ping, Associate Dean; Wang Zhanpeng, Executive Vice Dean of the Advanced Institute for Area and Global Governance; Gong Jing, Deputy Director of the Office of International Exchange and Cooperation; Chen Li, Director of the Irish Studies Center; and other faculty and staff.
(School of English and International Studies, Beijing Foreign Studies University.)
