On April 7, 2025, Li Xiaohong, President of the Chinese Academy of Engineering (CAE), met with a visiting delegation led by Sir Jim McDonald in Beijing. Sir McDonald is the past President of the UK Royal Academy of Engineering (RAEng) and Principal & Vice-Chancellor of the University of Strathclyde. Wang Chen, Vice President of the CAE, and Chen Jianfeng, Secretary-General of the CAE, also attended the meeting.

    Both sides spoke highly of the close, smooth and fruitful cooperation between the two academies under the frameworks of the Steering Committee on Sino-British Engineering Technology Cooperation and the China-UK-US Global Grand Challenges Summit. They also reached a high consensus on adhering to open cooperation in the future and joining hands with academy members/fellows and experts from both countries to address global challenges. In addition, the two sides exchanged views on the cooperation between the University of Strathclyde and renowned universities in China. It is reported that the University of Strathclyde has a long history and a good international academic reputation, with its business school enjoying world renown. Various academic departments of the university have extensive cooperation with the industrial community. The University of Strathclyde attaches great importance to exchanges and cooperation with Chinese universities and research institutes.

    Also present at the meeting were Andrew Goudie, Special Advisor to the Principal of the University of Strathclyde; Duncan Graham, Vice Principal and Head of the Faculty of Science; Stephen McArthur, Vice Principal and Head of the Faculty of Engineering; and Fan LIN, China Advisor to the Principal and Director of China Cooperation at the University of Strathclyde. Tian Qi, Director-General of the Department of International Cooperation of the CAE, and relevant division head also attended the meeting.