On 10 April 2023, a delegation consisting of the leaders of four Sri Lankan universities, including the University of Colombo, the University of Peradeniya, the University of Kelaniya, and the University of Ruhuna, as well as the deans of their respective colleges, visited the Open University of China (OUC).

The two sides conducted extensive exchanges on subjects, teaching and research, international cooperation, and distance education, and discussed the prospects for cooperation. Fan Xianrui, vice president of the OUC, attended the exchange activity, and relevant department heads also participated in the exchange.

Fan Xianrui warmly welcomed the delegation from Sri Lankan universities and introduced the history of the OUC and the latest developments in international exchange and cooperation. She pointed out that 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. China and Sri Lanka, as important partners of the Belt and Road Initiative, have maintained a friendly and cooperative relationship. The OUC is leveraging digital technology and internet advantages to build a digital university that connects the world and strives to become a world-class open university. The visit of the Sri Lankan delegation is a new exploration for the OUC to deepen exchange and cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road Initiative. She hopes that both sides will continue to communicate, deepen understanding, explore more opportunities for cooperation, serve the exchange of teachers and students on both sides and improve educational quality, and promote the effectiveness of the Belt and Road education action.

The four Sri Lankan universities respectively introduced their own school history, advantages, and characteristics, and proposed the direction and fields of cooperation with the OUC in the next step.

Written by Liu Xiaoqian and photographed by Zhuge Huanyu, OUC