Vice Minister of Education Xiong Sihao met with Joaquín Goyache Goñi, rector of the Complutense University of Madrid (UCM), Spain, on Feb. 26 in Beijing. The two sides exchanged views on enhancing cooperation in higher education between China and Spain.

Noting that 2025 marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Sino-Spanish comprehensive strategic partnership, Xiong praised the progress in Sino-Spanish bilateral relations as well as the significant achievements in student exchange, joint research, mutual cultural learning, and other areas. He said the MOE would work with higher education institutions in Spain, focusing on sustainable development goals, to promote industry-academia integration in talent cultivation in cutting-edge fields such as green and low-carbon development and smart cities. They will also increase experience sharing and people-to-people exchanges, to create a new model for global educational collaboration.

Goyache spoke highly of China’s practical experience and valuable results in higher education. He said UCM, as one of the world’s oldest and most celebrated universities, will link academic communities and foster higher education ties between both countries.