BEIJING — A delegation from the Canada-China Legislative Association, led by its Co-Chair, Senator Clément Gignac, visited Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) on March 16 to explore opportunities for expanded academic cooperation between the two countries.
BFSU Vice President Zhao Gang welcomed the delegation and outlined the recent growth of the School of English and International Studies (SEIS) and its Canadian Studies Center. He emphasized the university's commitment to partnerships with Canadian institutions and expressed hope for deeper collaboration in joint research and faculty and student exchange.
Senator Gignac thanked the university for its hospitality and praised BFSU's role in advancing people-to-people ties between Canada and China. He reaffirmed the Association's commitment to promoting educational and cultural exchange, and to building greater mutual understanding between the two countries.
Member of Parliament Zoe Royer, also part of the delegation, offered an optimistic view of the future of Canada-China relations. She stressed that the relationship depends not only on engagement at the government level but on direct connections between citizens — particularly among young people and students.
Following the formal session, the delegation joined faculty and students at the SEIS Canadian Studies Center for a roundtable discussion. Faculty representative Zhang Xiaoyi introduced the Center's history, curriculum, and research contributions. In a wide-ranging Q&A, students posed questions on pressing topics in Canada-China relations, drawing detailed responses from the delegates in what participants described as a warm and open exchange.
Also in attendance were He Jing, Director of the BFSU Office for International Exchange and Cooperation; Yang Luxin, Dean of SEIS; Peng Ping, Associate Dean of SEIS; Dong Yikun, a faculty member of the Canadian Studies Center; and officials from the Embassy of Canada in China.
