President of China Visits the University

China's President Jiang Zemin is shown a Chinese Oracle bone by Charles Aylmer of the University Library while touring the Aoi Pavilion.

The President of China, Jiang Zemin, has concluded his historic State Visit to Britain with a visit to the University of Cambridge.

The President addressed the University at a lecture at the West Road Concert Hall. During his speech, the President referred to the long history of contacts between China and the University, dating from the beginning of the nineteenth century.

He said that these links were still strong: "Today the Chinese academic community still maintains good exchanges and cooperation with Cambridge. This has played a positive role in and exerted a sound influence on enhanced cultural exchanges and friendship between the Chinese and British people and progress in science and technology as well as in thinking."

He also discussed economic development in China and the role of China in world affairs.

President Jiang Zemin signs the visitors book in the Aoi Pavilion of the University Library, watched by Vice-Chancellor Sir Alec Broers (right) and University Librarian Peter Fox (left).

Earlier in the morning he visited the University Library. There he met representatives of the Library, the Faculty of Oriental Studies and the Needham Research Institute in the East Asian Reading Room. He also inscribed a message of goodwill for the University's newly established East Asian Institute.

One of the highlights of the visit was a demonstration of the University's electronic link to Tsinghua University via the CERNet-JANET Networks, inaugurated by Prime Minister Tony Blair on his visit to China in 1998. The President also viewed rare books and manuscripts from the Library's collection and was presented with a set of Dr Joseph Needham's great work, "Science and Civilization in China".

A Chinese oracle bone, dating from around 1200BC - one of the artefacts viewed by the President at the University Library.

Around one hundred and fifty demonstrators were present outside the Library, chiefly from groups protesting alleged Chinese human rights abuses.

Throughout the day, the President heard much about the University's ties with Hong Kong and with Chinese universities, and about its role as one of the most important centres for Oriental Studies in the West.