On April 30, 2025, a five-member delegation from the Chinese publishing house People’s Education Press, led by Mr. Zheng Wangquan, visited the University of Crete to explore opportunities for collaboration. As part of the visit, 200 English-language books on Chinese language and culture were donated to the University’s Central Library.

The delegation was welcomed by Vice Rector for Development, International Relations, and Outreach, Prof. Melina Tamiolaki, who emphasized the University’s strategic commitment to internationalization and its growing partnerships with institutions in and beyond Europe, including China. She also presented the publishing activities of the UoC School of Philosophy, such as the Ariadne journal.

Mr. Wangquan presented the mission and global reach of People’s Education Press, a leading publisher in China serving over 290 million students and educators in more than 80 countries. Over half of all Chinese students use its textbooks, produced by a team of over 1,400 professionals specializing in primary and secondary education materials.

The Head of the University Library, Ms. Eleni Kovaiou, introduced the Library’s digital services, open data policies, rare collections, and conservation facilities. A discussion followed on possible areas of cooperation, including the translation of academic work by University faculty into Chinese and future publications in Chinese open-access journals. The event was also attended by Professor Nikos Vafeas, Dean of the School of Social Sciences, and Prof. Ilias Georgantas, Chair of the Department of Political Science.

The visit concluded with a guided tour of the Library and its current exhibitions. The donation of the 200 books, announced during a brief ceremony, significantly enriches the Library’s collection and supports the study of Chinese language and culture within the University’s academic community.