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Professor Ji Zhou, President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE) attended an informal dinner at W/Prof Dongke Zhang’s home on 14th November 2010 before visiting the UWA Centre for Energy the following day.

Professor Zhou (pictured, right) was formerly President of Huazhong University of Science and Technology (HUST), where Prof Zhang (pictured, left) studied in 1987/88.  “Professor Zhou was one of the youngest professors in the engineering college at HUST, full of energy and new ideas and, in the eyes of postgraduate students like myself, an inspiring model for us” Prof Zhang said.

The President’s visit to Australia was organised by the Australian Academy of Technological Sciences and Engineering (ATSE) to strengthen the cooperation in technological science and engineering between ATSE and CAE and science and technology exchange between Australia and China.

The visitors were accompanied by Elizabeth Meier, Manager, International Affairs, ATSE.

During the four day visit, President Zhou met with The Hon Kim Carr, the Federal Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, Professor Penny Sackett, Chief Scientist of Australia, Her Excellency Professor Marie Bashir, The Governor of NSW, and Professor Robin Batterham, President of ATSE and gave a lecture at ATSE AGM in Sydney.

President Zhou visited only one university while in Australia and that was UWA. He toured the UWA Centre for Energy before attending a welcome lunch at the University Club. The lunch was hosted by Professor Alan Robson, the Vice Chancellor and attended by Hon Dr Elizabeth Constable, WA Minister for Education; Tourism and Professor Lyn Beazley FTSE, WA Chief Scientist.

Also in attendance from the Academy, was:

• Mr Guokai Wu, Secretary to President Zhou Ji
• Mr Jin Xu, Deputy Director-General, Bureau of International Cooperation and
• Ms Haiyan Xu, Deputy Director, General Affairs Office, International Cooperation

UWA attendees at the informal dinner at Prof Zhang’s home included:

• Professor Robyn Owens, Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Research)
• Mr Tim Shanahan, Director, Energy and Minerals Institute
• W/Prof John Dell, Dean, Engineering, Computing and Mathematics
• W/Prof Yinong Liu, Head of School, Mechanical and Chemical Engineering
• Ms Eva Chye, Principal Adviser, International Relations (North and Southeast Asia)
• Ms Julie Pearce, Executive Assistant to Prof Dongke Zhang FTSE

Media references

W/Prof Dongke Zhang (Director, UWA Centre for Energy) (+61 8) 6488 7600