Renmin University of China and Complutense University of Madrid on Sunday jointly launched a research center in Madrid, Spain, with the aim of enhancing educational collaboration and promoting cultural exchange and mutual learning of civilizations between China and Spain.

Huai Jinpeng, China's minister of education; Zhang Donggang, Party secretary of Renmin University of China; Zhao Weimin, counsellor for education affairs of the Chinese Embassy in Spain; and Joaquín Goyache Go?i, rector of Complutense University of Madrid attended the launch ceremony.

Zhang Donggang and Joaquín Goyache Go?i jointly inaugurated the research facility and signed a cooperation agreement between the two universities. The research center will focus on building cooperation in four key areas: promoting youth exchanges, deepening academic visits, advancing knowledge innovation and expanding dialogue on civilization.

In his speech, Huai Jinpeng said education is an important form of cultural exchange and dialogue, as it played a crucial role in the inheritance and exchange of human civilization. "The establishment of the center fully reflects the wisdom of the two universities, and embodies the foundation of cultural exchange between China and Spain," said Huai. He hopes the research center will serve as a bridge of communication between the two nations, contributing to the building of a community with a shared future for humanity.

"Education is a fundamental way to promote international understanding, facilitate people-to-people connectivity and promote global cultural exchange," said Zhang Donggang at the ceremony. "The research center is focused on pioneering and practicing cooperation in education and cultural interactions between China and Spain," he added.

Joaquín Goyache Go?i also said that universities have an important mission to promote cultural exchange and mutual learning among civilizations. "As two top universities in their respective countries, the establishment of the research center marks a new milestone in the cooperation between the two institutions and countries, injecting vitality into mutual learning between China and Spain," he said.

The school of fine arts of the two universities also signed a framework cooperation agreement, to deepen cooperation in exchange visits, talent cultivation and discipline construction in the future. The two universities have conducted multiple inter-school visits and signed inter-institutional cooperation agreements before. 

In recent years, Renmin University of China has continuously expanded its educational and cultural exchanges with Spain, establishing cooperative partnerships with seven Spanish universities and institutions, including the Complutense University of Madrid.

Guided by China's three major global initiatives on development, security and civilization, Renmin University of China has also established many research centers in countries like Greece, France, Hungary and Zimbabwe, providing important platforms for dialogue and exchange between different civilizations.