The alignment between China's 2035 education strategy and the development goals of foreign universities boosts international partnership, according to Duncan Ivison, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Manchester.

Ivison's remarks came during his tour to China this week. "The presidents of Chinese universities are very open to collaboration, and partnership is a big part of our strategy," he said.

Last year, Minister of Education Huai Jinpeng revealed an ambitious target that China is speeding up its effort to develop itself into an important global education center with strong influence by 2035.

Reflecting on the goal, Ivison said: "We see great potential in working together on global challenges. The Chinese government's vision for its universities aligns with our goals, and the UK government also encourages us to contribute to addressing the challenges it faces. There is a clear synergy between these ambitions."

During Ivison's visit to Beijing and Shanghai, he met with alums, donors, partners, and visited universities. His itinerary included visits to Peking University and Tsinghua University in Beijing on Monday. In Shanghai, Ivison visited Shanghai Jiao Tong University on Tuesday and Fudan University on Wednesday.

The visit coincided with the first University of Manchester graduation ceremony held in Shanghai.

Liang Yuxuan contributed to the story.