In the gentle spring breeze, multiple model aircraft took off one after another over the sports field of Shenyang Aerospace University, drawing crowds of onlookers with a dazzling aerial display.
In the crowd, Carl Decaluwe, governor of Belgium’s West Flanders Province, watched with particular interest. He followed closely as the model aircraft dived, glided and soared through the air, and even asked university students to teach him how to operate them. As China and Belgium mark the 55th anniversary of diplomatic relations, Decaluwe led an education delegation on a visit to Liaoning. During the visit, he toured the Shenyang Imperial Palace, universities and key enterprises, and took part in a number of discussions and exchanges with the Chinese side. He said he was deeply impressed by Liaoning’s solid industrial base, strong growth momentum and open business environment. He noted that West Flanders Province attaches great importance to its friendly ties with Liaoning, and that the purpose of this visit was to advance substantive cooperation in such fields as aeronautical engineering, inter-university collaboration, and industry-university-research integration for mutual benefit.
This was Decaluwe’s second visit to Shenyang. He described the city as one where ancient charm and modern vitality coexist in harmony. He said the Shenyang Imperial Palace was breathtakingly beautiful, while the city’s modern architecture conveyed a distinct contemporary flair. During his visit to the palace, he also enthusiastically tried on traditional Chinese attire and took selfies to capture the moment.
Decaluwe described the Liaoning trip as “an unforgettable journey of learning.” The delegation made in-depth visits to major enterprises and research institutions, including Shenyang Siasun Robot & Automation Co., Ltd. and the Liaoning General Aviation Academy, and held extensive exchanges with faculty members and students at Shenyang Aerospace University. “Liaoning’s technological strength in aerospace and the high quality of its specialized education are truly remarkable,” Decaluwe said.
On March 28, Shenyang Aerospace University signed a strategic cooperation agreement with VIVES University of Applied Sciences in Belgium. “This is a very good beginning. There is enormous potential for cooperation between our two sides, and I look forward to what lies ahead,” Decaluwe said. Under the agreement, the two universities will exchange teachers and students for study visits, while faculty members from Shenyang Aerospace University will travel to Belgium to provide artificial intelligence training for university students there.
Though separated by thousands of miles, Liaoning and Belgium enjoy a solid foundation for cooperation, with frequent exchanges at various levels in recent years. “Although this visit was brief, it was highly fruitful and laid a solid foundation for deeper cooperation,” Decaluwe said. In addition to higher education, West Flanders Province is also willing to work with Liaoning to expand practical cooperation in a broader range of areas, including new energy, digital transformation and biomedicine, so that more cooperation outcomes can take root in both places.
