On November 3, 2024, Dr. Ante Simonić, former Deputy Prime Minister of Croatia, former Ambassador to China, President of the Croatia-China Friendship Association, and former Dean and Professor at the Medical School of the University of Rijeka, visited Guangzhou Huali College for an official inspection. Accompanying Dr. Simonić were Dr. Lita Zhao, President of the Croatia-China Friendship Association and former CCTV host, Qiyun Sun, Director of the International School Office at Jinan University, and Teacher Shaonan Zhou.

        Professor Jiesheng Liu, President of Guangzhou Huali College, warmly welcomed the distinguished guests at the meeting room of the Jiangmen Campus. Joining President Liu in receiving the delegation were leaders from the Jiangmen Campus, as well as representatives from the International School, School of Education, School of Health and Nursing, School of Pharmacy, and other departments.

President Jiesheng Liu meeting with Professor Ante Simonić in the meeting room of the Jiangmen Campus

        President Jiesheng Liu warmly welcomed Professor Ante Simonić and expressed heartfelt gratitude for his visit and insights. He provided a concise overview of the key features and highlights of Huali College's two campuses, located in Zengcheng, Guangzhou, and Yinhuwan, Jiangmen. His introduction covered the campuses' layout, architectural styles, infrastructure, student housing, faculty and student demographics, academic strengths, educational achievements, and efforts in fostering international collaboration.

President Jiesheng Liu is giving a speech

        Professor Ante Simonić expressed heartfelt gratitude to President Liu for the warm welcome he received, from the Zengcheng Campus in Guangzhou to the Yinhuwan Campus in Jiangmen. He praised Guangzhou Huali College as a diverse and promising institution, commending its expansive and well-maintained campus, state-of-the-art sports facilities, integration of industry and education, student-centered teaching philosophy, vibrant campus life, and efforts in fostering multicultural international collaboration.

        Professor Simonić also shared a brief overview of Croatia's geographical features, tourism highlights, and its unique role within the European Community. Reflecting on his five-year tenure as Croatia’s ambassador to China, he fondly recalled the country’s delicious cuisine and entertaining experiences across various regions. With his deep understanding of Chinese culture, he humorously referred to himself as a "Chinese," reflecting his profound affection for the country.

Professor Ante Simonić giving a speech

        Professor Ante Simonić shared insights about the University of Rijeka, where he is affiliated, and the Croatia-China Friendship Association. With a strong admiration for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM), he has actively promoted its development at the University of Rijeka, leading to the establishment of a School of Traditional Chinese Medicine. He also revealed plans to support the creation of a TCM hospital. Professor Simonić expressed his hope that TCM, as a cornerstone of integrative medicine in China, will expand its influence across Europe and the world. Additionally, he voiced his enthusiasm for fostering educational collaboration between Huali College and universities in Croatia and Europe, emphasizing his commitment to serving as a bridge for such initiatives.

President Jiesheng Liu is presenting the souvenir "Huali Lychee Embroidery" to Professor Ante Simonić

        President Liu and others taking a group photo with Professor Ante Simonić

President Liu expressed heartfelt gratitude for Professor Ante Simonić's genuine affection for China and his kind words of praise for Guangzhou Huali College. He eagerly anticipated forming cooperative ties with Croatian universities through Professor Simonić's support and connections. With a touch of humor, President Liu added that he hoped Professor Simonić could help bring Croatian football to China and to Huali College.

Profile of Professor Ante Simonić

    Professor Ante Simonić currently serves as the Chairman of the Croatia - China Senior Advisory Committee, a tenured professor at the Medical School of the University of Rijeka, the President of the Croatia - China Friendship Association, the President of the World Wine Industry Alliance, and the Chairman of the Croatia - China Cooperation Committee of the University of Rijeka. He holds a Doctor of Neuropharmacology degree, double Master's degrees in Cardiovascular and Pharmacology, and a Bachelor of Clinical Medicine degree. He is also a Fulbright Scholar (University of Michigan, USA) and a visiting professor at Ghent University in Belgium.

    Professor Ante Simonić once held positions including Deputy Prime Minister of the Republic of Croatia (in charge of science, education, culture, health, sports and social activities), Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to China, Ambassador to Mongolia and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea, a member of the Croatian Parliament, and the Dean of the Medical School of the University of Rijeka. In 2017, he was awarded the Friendship Award of the Chinese government. On October 11, 2024, Ante Simonić was invited to attend the commemorative event for the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries held in the Great Hall of the People and was honored with the title of "People's Friendship Envoy" by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and was received by President Xi.

On October 11, 2024, Professor Ante Simonić (in the middle of the first row) was invited to attend the commemorative event for the "China International Friendship Conference and the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries" held in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing and listened to President Xi's speech.

On the morning of October 11, 2024, President Xi met with foreign dignitaries and distinguished guests attending the commemorative event for the "China International Friendship Conference and the 70th Anniversary of the Founding of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries" in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing (second row, second from the right, Professor Ante Simonić).

Written by Lei Qian

Revised by SM Hashmi

Approved by Shuze Tang