On the afternoon of August 29, a 6-member delegation led by Makhmudov, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Higher Education, Science and Innovation of Uzbekistan (hereinafter referred to as the "Ministry of Higher Education"), and Turdiyev, Rector of Andijan National University of Technology, visited our university. Zhang Lifeng, President of our university, held the meeting with the guests in Conference Room 302 of the Dunpin Building.

Zhang Lifeng extended a warm welcome to the delegation and reviewed the exchanges and cooperation between our university and universities in Uzbekistan. He stated that the university has actively responded to the "Belt and Road" Initiative and made every effort to promote cooperation with Uzbek universities represented by Andijan National University of Technology. Last year, the university co-hosted the first China-Uzbekistan University Science and Technology Innovation Conference with 7 Uzbek universities, which attracted widespread attention from mainstream media at home and abroad. He expressed the hope that in the future, based on its advantageous disciplines, our university will further deepen exchanges and cooperation with Uzbek universities through programs such as dual degrees, advanced studies, and the joint construction of "Belt and Road" joint laboratories.

Makhmudov expressed sincere thanks for the warm reception from North China University of Technology and appreciated the series of achievements made through in-depth exchanges between our university and various Uzbek universities. He introduced the current development of higher education in Uzbekistan. He emphasized that China is an important strategic partner of Uzbekistan, and Uzbekistan attaches great importance to cooperation with China in the field of higher education. North China University of Technology has a solid foundation for extensive cooperation with Uzbek universities, and the Ministry of Higher Education of Uzbekistan will fully support and assist in advancing its cooperation with Andijan National University of Technology and other Uzbek universities.

Subsequently, our university and Andijan National University of Technology signed the Agreement on Joint Construction of the "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory for New Energy and Energy Storage between North China University of Technology and Andijan National University of Technology.

The head of the Office of International Affairs attended the meeting.