On April 12, Prof. Tan Zhemin, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and President of Nanjing University (NJU), met with Prof. Petteri TAALAS, Secretary-General of World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and Zhang Wenjian, Assistant Secretary-General of WMO in Beijing. The two sides exchanged views on deepening cooperation and signed a Memorandum of Understanding.

Prof. Tan Zhemin expressed his warm welcome and appreciation to Prof. Petteri TAALAS. He pointed out that Nanjing University has a long history, with its comprehensive strengths at the forefront of China and the world. NJU has always adhered to the tradition of internationalization, maintaining in-depth cooperation with more than 200 universities and scientific institutes around the world. It has a deep relationship with the United Nations and close cooperation with the WMO, and has joined many WMO scientific programs. The university attaches great importance to cultivating international professionals with a global vision and has trained outstanding talents for the society and will continue to do so through the Johns Hopkins University-Nanjing University Center for Chinese and American Studies, the Nanjing-Helsinki Institute in Atmospheric and Earth System Sciences of Nanjing University (NJU Nanjing-Helsinki Institute) and other joint programs. Prof. Tan looks forward to further deepening comprehensive cooperation with WMO in talent cultivation, scientific research and social services with the support of China Meteorological Administration (CMA).

Prof. Petteri TAALAS highly recognized the contributions made by NJU in talent training and climate and environment related research, and shared his willingness to further strengthen the cooperation with NJU in the fields of climate, meteorology and other areas of common interest. He also expressed his pleasure that NJU and his Alma Mater, the University of Helsinki, jointly built the international institute in atmospheric and earth system sciences. He would continue to support the development of the joint institute and look forward to its success.

Dr. Zhang Wenjian remarked that strengthening exchanges and cooperation between universities and international organizations, and promoting the internship and JPO program of WMO would help enhance mutual trust and deepen their understanding of global climate governance and international organization affairs.

On April 13, Prof. TAALAS and the delegation visited Nanjing University. Vice President, Prof. Wang Zhenlin met with guests on Xianlin Campus. They held in-depth discussions on deepening international cooperation and supporting the development of NJU Nanjing-Helsinki Institute.

After the meeting, Prof. TAALAS made an academic report on the theme of “Climate Change and WMO activities” at the university library lecture hall. The delegation then visited the Station for Observing Regional Processes of the Earth System (SORPES) at the School of Atmospheric Sciences.

Senior officers of relevant departments of CMA, heads of the School of Atmospheric Sciences, the Office of International Cooperation and Exchanges and the Student Career & Development Center of NJU attended relevant events.

Source: Office of Internation Cooperation and Exchanges