From April 16 to 24, 2026, Hou Zhenfa, Secretary of the Party Committee of Zhongnan University of Economics and Law (ZUEL), led a delegation to visit Switzerland, Italy and Kazakhstan. During the visit, the delegation called on world-renowned universities and key international organizations, and signed a number of cooperation agreements.
On April 16, the delegation visited the University of Fribourg in Switzerland and held in-depth talks with its Vice-Rector Bernard Ries. The two sides reached extensive consensus on cooperation in discipline co-construction, faculty and student exchange, and joint scientific research, laying a solid foundation for the long-term cooperation between the two universities.
Visit to the University of Fribourg, Switzerland
Subsequently, the delegation paid visits to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO) and the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR). It held in-depth exchanges with Chen Hongbing, Executive Director of the WIPO Academy, and Julian Caletti, Head of Training Programmes of the Multilateral Diplomacy Division at UNITAR, respectively. The delegation also signed a cooperation agreement with UNITAR, with a focus on the fields of global governance and foreign-related rule of law, to jointly build a cooperation platform and cultivate high-end professional talents.
Visit to the World Intellectual Property Organization (WIPO)
Visit to the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR) and Signing of Cooperation Agreement
During its stay in Italy, the delegation was invited to attend the opening ceremony of Sapienza University of Rome. Secretary Hou Zhenfa held friendly talks with Antonella Polimeni, Rector of Sapienza University of Rome. The two sides reviewed the achievements of the ten-year cooperation between the two universities, and focused discussions on the construction of the Shouyi International Campus and the development of an interdisciplinary research center.
Visit to Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
Attendance at the Opening Ceremony of Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
In addition, the delegation held separate talks with Bruno Botta, Rector of the Distance Learning School of Sapienza University of Rome, and Aldo Petrucci, Vice-Rector of the University of Pisa, further expanding cooperation in online education, faculty and student exchange, and collaborative scientific research.
Visit to the Distance Learning School of Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
Visit to the University of Pisa, Italy
At the centennial celebration of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT), Secretary Hou Zhenfa held talks with Ignacio Tirado, Secretary-General of UNIDROIT. The two sides agreed to continuously deepen cooperation in the collaborative training of foreign-related rule of law talents and academic research. Secretary Hou Zhenfa also had in-depth exchanges with Li Xiaoyong, Charge d'Affaires ad interim of the Chinese Embassy in Italy, on Sino-Italian educational cooperation.
Attendance at the Centennial Celebration of the International Institute for the Unification of Private Law (UNIDROIT)
Furthermore, the delegation visited a local legal aid cooperative in Italy to discuss overseas internship programs for ZUEL students, and met with ZUEL students and alumni studying at Sapienza University of Rome, conveying the university's sincere care and regards.
Meeting with a Local Legal Aid Cooperative in Rome, Italy
Meeting with Students and Alumni Studying at Sapienza University of Rome
On April 23, the delegation visited Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and Caspian University of Kazakhstan successively, and held talks with Zhanseit Tuimebayev, Rector of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, and Zholdasbek Nussenov, Rector of Caspian University of Kazakhstan, respectively. ZUEL signed an agreement on the High-quality Source Base for International Students with Al-Farabi Kazakh National University, to advance pragmatic cooperation in joint talent training, scholarship establishment and discipline co-construction, and improve the university's cooperation network in Central Asia. Meanwhile, the delegation met with ZUEL alumni in Kazakhstan, pooling alumni strength to boost the university's international development.
Visit to Al-Farabi Kazakh National University and Signing of Cooperation Agreement
Visit to Caspian University of Kazakhstan
Meeting with Alumni of Al-Farabi Kazakh National University
Relevant officials from the School of International Law, the School of Intellectual Property, the School of Law and Economics, and International Education School accompanied the delegation.
