President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China visited Imperial College London today (21 October).

As he visited, Imperial announced a series of new UK-China education and research collaborations.

The President and First Lady Madame Peng Liyuan were joined by the Duke of York Prince Andrew, the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, Commercial Secretary to the Treasury Lord O’Neill, and several senior Chinese ministers. 

They were welcomed to Imperial, the UK’s number one research partner with China, by Professor Alice Gast, Imperial’s President, and the Provost, Professor James Stirling. 

Professor Gast explained how Imperial experts and their Chinese partners are working together on cutting-edge research in fields including nanotechnology, bioengineering, computing, advanced materials, environmental engineering and public health.

In a speech, she told President Xi and guests: “Imperial’s exceptional academics and talented students are working with outstanding Chinese partners. Together we are addressing some of the world’s greatest challenges.”

President Xi meets Imperial College Union president Lucinda Sandon-Allum

“Brilliant students and academic collaborations are making both the UK and China stronger, more prosperous and ready to deal with the challenges of this century."  

President Gast addressed the Chancellor of the Exchequer George Osborne, saying “Chancellor, you have said that you aim to make the UK 'China’s best partner in the west'. Imperial College London strives to be just that, China’s best academic partner in the west.” 

Intensifying collaboration

Imperial has intensified its research collaborations with China significantly over the last decade. In 2005, 3% of Science and Nature papers authored by Imperial academics had a co-author from a Chinese institution. In 2015, that figure stands at 22%. 

Imperial’s Chinese research partners include businesses like Huawei and China Southern Railway, as well as scientific institutions such as Tsinghua University, Zhejiang University, Shanghai Jiao Tong, Wuhan and Peking Universities, and the Chinese Academy of Sciences.

At the College, President Xi visited some of the world’s most advanced labs specialising in big data research and medical robotics. He also met a group of Imperial students, two of whom were from the College’s 2,000 strong Chinese student community. 

New partnerships 

As President Xi visited, the Chinese Scholarship Council announced plans for scores of China’s most academically able scholars and students to receive funding to come to Imperial, as well as support for Imperial’s finest PhD students to undertake research work at Chinese universities. 

Professor Guang-Zhong Yang with President Xi in the Hamlyn Centre

The China UCF Group announced that it will donate £3 million to support research at Imperial’s Data Science Institute and Hamlyn Centre for Medical Robotics, both of which were visited by President Xi.

Imperial also revealed plans for a partnership with Zhejiang University, a longstanding research collaborator, for a new centre for transnational entrepreneurship to be based in London. 

Professor Alice Gast, Imperial's President, said: “UK-China relationships are increasingly important and increasingly beneficial to both countries. British universities have been instrumental in building and strengthening these relationships. Academics are enthusiastic diplomats, productive collaborators and ideally placed to benefit from our exchanges and partnerships with Chinese universities. 

President Xi presents Alice Gast with a gift

“As China’s top research partner in the UK, Imperial’s academics and students benefit from collaboration on a daily basis. Chinese institutions are a great source of innovative ideas and they are outstanding partners. 

“From nanotechnology to aeronautics, great things happen when Imperial scholars work with their Chinese peers. 

“Imperial’s Chinese students have developed a reputation for innovation, creativity and an openness to new ideas. They are the leaders of tomorrow. Their work today will help shape the UK-China relationship for generations to come.”

Research spotlight

During the visit, the Data Science Institute’s Director Professor Yike Guo showed President Xi how Imperial data scientists, in collaboration with Chinese and international partners, are helping policymakers around the world to develop internal migration policies that are conducive to entrepreneurship. Professor Guo also presented a data-driven analysis of China’s “One Belt, One Road” policy’s economic and social impact internationally. 

Professor Yike Guo presenting in the Data Science Institute to President Xi and Madame Peng

He went on to show how Imperial medics are partnering with computer scientists to enable the application of personalised medicine on a vast scale. Professor Guo also demonstrated how smart cities researchers are monitoring and analysing transport usage for London’s tube and Shanghai’s metro networks. 

At the Hamlyn Centre, its Director, Professor Guang-Zhong Yang, showed how Imperial’s innovations in medical robotics have facilitated the development of smaller, cheaper robots that enable healthcare professionals to conduct operations with unprecedented precision at low cost. 

Professor Gast, President Xi and Prince Andrew toured Imperial

President Xi, the Duke of York and the Chancellor interacted with the latest medical robots, including a snake robot for ultra-flexible use in surgery. Professor Yang also demonstrated how smart instruments with integrated imaging and sensing are being developed at Imperial for use in robotic micro-surgery. 

President Xi’s visit was Imperial’s third state visit within three years, following President Park Geun-hye of Korea’s visit in 2013 and President Tony Tan of Singapore’s in 2014. 

Photography: Thomas Angus