UMSU strengthens educational and cultural diplomacy with China
Medan, North Sumatra (ANTARA) - The Muhammadiyah University of North Sumatra (UMSU) is strengthening international relations by opening up new opportunities for cooperation in education, investment, and cultural exchange with China.
The Chair of the Board of Trustees (BPH) of UMSU, Prof. Agussani, in Medan on Tuesday, said that the relationship between UMSU and the Chinese Consulate General in North Sumatra has been long-standing, notably through the China Corner at UMSU as a hub of information on developments in education, culture, and Chinese civilisation.
In addition to strengthening cultural ties, UMSU and Muhammadiyah are also opening opportunities for international educational investment collaborations, including the development of teaching hospitals and other areas of expertise.
On that occasion, he stated that his side, together with a delegation comprising representatives from various universities, religious leaders, FKUB, the media, and North Sumatra Chinese organisations, had recently visited several important cities in China, specifically Beijing, Urumqi, and Kashgar in the Xinjiang region.
The visit provided first-hand insight into developments in civilisation, social life, and advances in education and technology in China.
“The visit served as a bridge to strengthen inter-nation relations as well as to open up opportunities for cooperation in various fields, notably in education and culture,” he said.
During the stay in China, the delegation visited various cultural centres and world heritage sites, such as the Summer Palace, the Forbidden City, and the Great Wall area at Mutianyu. The delegation also witnessed the cultural performance “Five-Star Shining in the East”.
According to Prof. Agussani, one of the important experiences during the trip was to see first-hand the life of Muslims in the Xinjiang region, which has long attracted international attention.
“I conveyed what I felt and experienced. There have been many reports portraying Muslims in China as repressed and marginalised. Yet during our time there, we hardly found such phenomena,” he said.
He assessed that China has managed to build modern transformation without abandoning the historical roots and culture that form the foundation of the nation’s civilisation.
“From this visit, we can learn how history and culture are among the key pillars of modern China’s transformation,” he said.
As a follow-up to the visit, the entire delegation plans further goodwill visits in Indonesia. UMSU is scheduled to host the next meeting in June 2026, to be attended by the Chinese Consul-General in Medan.