Wenzhou-Kean University Spotlighted at China–U.S. Sister Cities Conference

The 7th China–U.S. Sister Cities Conference, co-organized by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) and the Zhejiang Provincial Government, took place from October 25 to 27 in Hangzhou. Throughout the event, Wenzhou-Kean University repeatedly stood out as a key highlight, recognized as one of the most significant achievements of provincial and state-level cooperation between China and the United States.

Liu Jie, Deputy Party Secretary and Governor of Zhejiang Province

During the opening ceremony, Liu Jie, Deputy Party Secretary and Governor of Zhejiang Province, highlighted that Zhejiang’s sister-city relationship with 62 U.S. states and cities have strengthened cooperation in education, culture, and ecological collaboration. In his remarks, he praised Wenzhou-Kean University as a landmark achievement in China-US educational collaboration.

Chen Kuan, Vice Mayor of Wenzhou

Chen Kuan, Vice Mayor of Wenzhou, delivered a keynote speech on behalf of the municipal government at the Education Exchange Forum. Speaking on the theme “Wenzhou-Kean University: A Vivid Practice of China–U.S. Educational Exchange and Cooperation,” he emphasized that the university has become a hallmark of bilateral partnerships and a vivid example of Wenzhou’s dedication to joint education, cultural exchange, and university-community engagement.

He outlined the “Wenzhou Approach,” a strategy focused on strengthening sister-city relationships through sustained educational collaboration. He emphasized that Wenzhou will continue to uphold President Xi Jinping’s expectations and support the university’s high-quality development. Chen also expressed hope that WKU will further deepen its cooperation with the United States and promote closer exchanges between the younger generations of both countries.

Wenzhou-Kean University is a province-state friendship project between Zhejiang Province and the State of New Jersey. The Ministry of Education approved its preparation in November 2011, and the university was officially established in March 2014. In June 2024, President Xi Jinping responded to a letter from Kean University President Lamont Repollet, acknowledging WKU’s notable achievements and reaffirming its role as a flagship project of China-U.S. educational collaboration.

Over the past decade, the university has grown rapidly and has become the largest Sino-U.S. cooperative institution in China in terms of campus size, student enrollment, academic programs, and accessibility. Currently, WKU enrolls about 5,300 students across undergraduate, master’s, and doctoral programs, and more than 5,000 students have earned their degrees over the past 10 years. Among the Class of 2025, over 75% plan to pursue further education after graduation, with nearly 20% admitted to top 10 universities worldwide.

Since its establishment, more than 2,600 students from China and the United States have participated in WKU’s exchange programs. In Support of the U.S.- China “50,000 Youth Exchange Program,” the university has hosted ten groups totaling over 140 young Americans to visit China in 2024 and aims to welcome more than 1,000 American students within five years.

Translator: Wenwei Xiang

Proofreader: Stephany Lopez