During the first week, the CGM representatives meet their Chinese counterparts from the Yangcheng Institute of Technology (YIT). Their mandate was to strengthen the YIT's institutional capacities with regard to engineering teaching and research standards, with an eye to having the YIT ultimately achieve the rank of a world-class establishment.

"We're also holding an intensive course and having students take tests to evaluate their level," said Professor Ji. "From there, the best students could conceivably be admitted to Polytechnique."

The final two weeks consisted of visits to the Nanjing University of Technology, with which Polytechnique had struck an agreement two years ago, and Shanghai University. These encounters are essentially occasions to discuss teaching and research in civil, geological and mining engineering and to address environmental matters.

Clearly, Polytechnique's partnerships with Chinese universities are on the rise -- a fact confirmed by Mr. Guy, Dean of Research and Innovation: "We brought home four collaborative agreements with China's most prestigious universities." In particular, the agreements concern joint research projects and provisions for enabling Chinese students to study at Polytechnique, mostly at the graduate studies level. Agreements with China hold particular meaning for the professors and researchers working in these institutions, since they are often required for any subsequent academic or scientific collaboration.

Visit at Shanghai Jiaotong University (SJTU)
Mr. Jean Charest, Prime Minister of Québec
Mr Jin Wei, Director, Division of International Cooperation & Exchange (SJTU)
Mr Christophe Guy, Directeur, Recherche et Innovation, École Polytechnique de Montréal; Ms Monique Gagnon-Tremblay, ministre des Relations internationales et ministre responsable de la Francophonie; Mr Ye Quyuan, Deputy President (SJTU)
Mr Claude Béchard, ministre du Développement économique, de l'Innovation et de l'Exportation