Trip to China: Visit to Research Minister Wan Gang

At the beginning of the meeting, University President Hanschke pointed out that the good cooperation between Clausthal University of Technology and the People's Republic of China has long been based not only on research and teaching, but also on music. He recalled the brilliant German-Chinese HarzClassix music festival in Clausthal in October, at which Wan Gang's daughter Jieni shone as a young pianist. He presented her father with copies of the "Goslarsche Zeitung" newspaper, in which his daughter's playing was praised. Wan Gang was visibly moved and Minister President Weil was impressed by the complexity of the relationship with the TU.

Wan Gang suggests joint research center

Opportunities for cooperation in the fields of energy efficiency, renewable energies and electromobility were discussed. Wan Gang suggested developing a joint research center to meet the challenges of the energy transition. He emphasized that China will not be able to do without coal-fired power plants in the next 30 years, but that he still sees massive potential for improvement here, for example in clean coal technologies and CO2 capture and storage. Clausthal University of Technology and its Chinese partner university, Sichuan University, have already been working together successfully in these research areas for ten years. The fourth Sino-German Energy Conference on these topics will be held in Chengdu at the end of May 2015.

Wan Gang recalled his student days in Clausthal and said that the TU enjoys a top reputation in China. The demands on Chinese students were very high back then. However, in his opinion, the high standard contributed to the fact that most of his former Chinese fellow students now hold top positions in science, business and politics. He was therefore very proud to have studied at Clausthal University of Technology and thanked Weil, the head of the state of Lower Saxony, for his support for Clausthal University of Technology.

Next year, the "Association of Chinese Alumni of Clausthal University of Technology" will be founded in Beijing. At the founding ceremony on June 6, 2015, Professor Wan Gang will give the keynote speech and Ambassador Clauß will give a welcoming address. In this context, Wan Gang emphasized how important these networks are not only for the current generation, but also for the future generation. He was pleased to hear from Professor Michael Hou, China Representative, that the TUC Alumni Academy, which is also co-initiated by Clausthal University of Technology's Alumni Management, is financially supported by the German Academic Exchange Service. The Association of Friends of the TU will also be represented at next summer's event.

TU cooperates with China University of Mining and Technology

Prior to the meeting with the research minister, Professor Hanschke signed a cooperation agreement with the China University of Mining and Technology at the German embassy in Beijing. Both sides want to work together on an English-language Master's program in the field of mining engineering. "The trip to China was very successful for TU Clausthal," said the TU President.

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