China's Research Minister Wan Gang appointed honorary professor at the TU

The ceremony was characterized by a lot of friendship, a very personal atmosphere and music that brought people together. "I feel very honored to have been appointed honorary professor at my mother school - as we say in China," emphasized Minister Wan. He called Clausthal University of Technology "my home". He was also touched by the conversations he had with former colleagues at the Institute of Mechanical Engineering before the ceremony. "I received the ability and the way of working to produce innovations in Clausthal," said the automotive engineer, paying tribute to his training in the Upper Harz Mountains. Professor Wan pointed out that ten Chinese graduates of TU Clausthal now head universities in their home country and even hold more than 20 leading positions in associations or companies.

Prior to this, TU President Professor Thomas Hanschke had mentioned the diverse, friendly relations that have existed between TU Clausthal and China for more than three decades. Approximately 500 of the university's 5000 students currently come from China. The foundation for the many successful collaborations between the two sides is also based on the cosmopolitanism and tolerance of the citizens of the Upper Harz region, said Hanschke.

Wan Gang wants "exchange with heart"

The following panel discussion also dealt with the topic of "German-Chinese cooperation". Not only the exchange of knowledge and skills is important, but also friendship, cohesion and intercultural activities, said China's research minister. He wished for "an exchange with heart". Dr. Georg Schütte, State Secretary at the Federal Ministry of Education and Research, emphasized: "China is a very important partner for us. That's why we developed our own China strategy in fall 2015." Professor Dong Qi from the Chinese embassy in Berlin said: "We need more China expertise in Germany and more Germany expertise in China." Peter-Jürgen Schneider, Minister of Finance in Hanover, contributed the Lower Saxony perspective to the panel. And Professor Hanschke noted that it is not only Chinese students who come to the TU; more and more Clausthal students are now also studying in the Far East.

Minister Wan Gang is a driving force behind the good scientific relations between Germany, Lower Saxony and Clausthal on the one hand and China on the other. This became clear once again in the laudatory speech given by Professor Alfons Esderts, TU Vice President for Research and Technology Transfer. Wan Gang, born in Shanghai in 1952, worked as a research assistant at Clausthal University of Technology from 1985 to 1991. He obtained his doctorate with a dissertation in the field of drive technology. He then worked for a decade in research and development at Audi AG in Ingolstadt. In 2001, Wan Gang returned to China and headed the renowned Tongji University as President, among other things, before the respected scientist was appointed Minister in 2007.

Daughter Jieni plays the piano at the ceremony

Wan Gang has maintained contact with his alma mater in Clausthal since returning to China. The harmony of this relationship was reflected in the musical interludes at the ceremony. Jieni Wan, the minister's daughter, and Hans-Christian Wille (HarzClassixFestival) played together on the piano as the crowning finale - and garnered a great deal of applause.

Professor Wan Gang also received a lot of applause when he gave his inaugural lecture on the subject of "Electromobility" to an audience of 300 in the university's Audimax on Monday morning. Afterwards, the Chinese delegation drove in electric cars to the battery test center in Goslar. The minister drove the first electric vehicle in the convoy himself. At lunchtime, the high-ranking visit continued its multi-day trip to Germany in the direction of Leipzig and later Berlin.

Video server: Heimatfluss - Wan Gang at the TU Clausthal.

Contact:

TU Clausthal
Press spokesperson
Christian Ernst
Phone: +49 5323 72-3904

E-Mail: christian.ernst@tu-clausthal.de