On May 31, 2022, the Embassy of Italy in Beijing, together with Zhejiang Ocean University (ZOU), the Italian Institute for Environmental Protection and Research, as well as the University of Pisa, and Anton Dohrn Zoological Station, held the first bilateral joint academic symposium on “Scientific- Technological Research and Higher Education Applied to the Maritime Science”, the first bilateral joint academic symposium consists of two parts - "Scientific- Technological Research in the Marine Field" and "International cooperation in the field of higher education between Italy and China based on Pisa Graduate School ".

The symposium has attracted a group of high-profile experts and scholars to join and share their opinions and attitudes towards the future of research and education on maritime science. Panelists from Italy include H. E. Luca Ferrari, the Italian Ambassador to China; Prof. Alessandra Guidi, the Science and Technology Counsellor of the Economic and Commercial Department of the Italian Embassy in China, etc. Prof. Xiaojun Yan, Secretary of Party Committee of ZOU; Prof. Zhenzhu Zhang, vice president of ZOU and many other distinguished Chinese panelists attended the symposium. 

Prof. Xiaojun Yan, Secretary of the Party Committee of Zhejiang Ocean University and academician of the International Eurasian Academy of Sciences delivered an opening speech as the representative of the Chinese side. 

Xiaojun Yan put emphasized that: "China and Italy are located at the two ends of the ancient Silk Road, and have natural advantages of cooperation; Zhejiang Ocean University and the University of Pisa made joint efforts to build the Pisa Marine Graduate School, which is a good opportunity for boosting China's marine science and technology innovation capacity, enlarging the innovation force, consolidating talent team and optimizing the evaluation system. Based on the previous scientific cooperation foundation, we hope to carry out more extensive international scientific cooperation with the relevant research institutes in the field of 'functional biology and toxic ecology of marine biota'".

H. E. Luca Ferrari, the Italian Ambassador to Beijing, delivered a speech at the symposium, pointing out that "history, civilization, and human talents have always been a part of the interaction between Italy and China, consolidating the relationship between these two ancient civilizations in the world incomparable and unique. Zhejiang Ocean University and the University of Pisa jointly established the Pisa Marine Graduate School, which is a model for future cooperation between Chinese and Italian universities. Pisa Marine Graduate School runs smoothly, fully demonstrating the great achievements between China and Italy in the education field, and the academic symposium will hugely promote further cooperation between the two countries in higher education and scientific research fields. We hope that the Pisa Marine Graduate School will make more contribution to deepening the communication and cooperation between Italy and China". 

Maritime scientists and many other academicians from different parts of the world attended the symposium. 

Editor: Ye Ke

Correspondents: Liu Chaojie, Zhou Chao