Sichuan Tourism University News Network （Correspondent:FengXia Photographer: Zhi Xinyue）On 23 April, Professor Ruwan Ranasinghe (Hon. Prof.),Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Overseas Employment and Tourism of the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka, visited SCTU for academic exchanges. Wang Chuan, DeputySecretary of the University PartyCommittee and President, received the guest.The two sides held detailed discussions on deepening China–Sri Lanka cooperation in tourism education and cultural and tourism industries and reached broad agreement on future collaboration.

        Wang Chuan warmly welcomed Professor Ruwan Ranasinghe to campus. He noted that Sri Lanka, a key hub on the ancient Maritime Silk Road, shares a long-standing traditional friendship with China. Under the Belt and Road Initiative, bilateral cultural and tourism exchanges have grown increasingly dynamic and delivered fruitful outcomes. Wang expressed hope that both institutions will build on this visit to strengthen cooperation in tourism talent development, joint research and 'Chinese language plus vocational skills' training. He highlighted the aim of establishing a robust platform for Sino-Sri Lankan tourism education exchanges, to support more substantial cultural and academic mutual learning between the two countries.

Professor Ruwan Ranasinghe looked back warmly on his doctoral studies at Sichuan University, saying Sichuan had long felt like a second home to him. He added that Sri Lanka and Sichuan boast highly complementary tourism resources. SCTU’s flagship disciplines – including culinary arts, tourism and hospitality management – match Sri Lanka’s demands for cultural tourism industrial growth and professional talent training. The professor voiced readiness to foster stronger ties between Sri Lanka’s higher education bodies, cultural tourism organizations and SCTU. He aims to deliver mutual gains across integrated cultural tourism development, joint student training and cross-cultural exchange programs.

After the talks, ProfessorZhiyuan visited SCTU’s History Museum, the Culinary and Food Experimental Management Center and the Institute for Mountain Tourism and Leisure Research. He learned extensively about the university’s development journey and unique academic positioning. He praised SCTU’s strategy of structuring disciplines and degree programs around the 'comprehensive tourism' industrial chain, alongside the tangible results delivered by this educational model.

        In the afternoon, Professor Zhiyuan gave an academic lecture entitled 'The China–Sri Lanka Cultural Bond: Past, Present and Future' open to all staff and students at the university. The talk laid out how culture acts as the core engine of tourism growth. It highlighted that under the framework of the 'Belt and Road' Initiative, the long-standing cultural links between China and Sri Lanka can fuel sustainable tourism collaboration. This can be realized through aligned policies, improved infrastructure links, digital tools, and cultural and educational exchanges. During the Q&A session, staff and students raised a range of questions, which Professor Zhiyuan answered thoroughly, fostering a warm, engaging atmosphere.

        After the lecture, representatives from both sides held a bilateral cooperation forum. Heads of SCTU’s relevant schools and research bodies – covering culinary arts, tourism and hospitality – outlined their existing programs and put forward concrete collaborative proposals. Professor Zhiyuan gave a full breakdown of Sri Lanka’s cultural tourism academic disciplines and industrial progress and offered considered feedback on SCTU’s proposals. The two parties reached initial agreement on a suite of joint schemes: setting up the 'Chinese Sichuan Cuisine Academy', the 'Sino-Sri Lankan Joint Research Centre for Mountain Tourism', the 'Sino-Sri Lankan Cultural Tourism Cooperation Platform' and the 'Research Centre for Innovative Hospitality Services', plus expanding recruitment of Sri Lankan learners on the 'Study in Sichuan Tourism' program. Wang Chuan laid out follow-up schedules for coordinating these projects and delivering tangible joint results.

SCTU has long actively supported the 'Belt and Road' Initiative and prioritized educational collaboration on culture and tourism with South Asian nations. Last year, the university took part in Sri Lanka’s 'Happy Chinese New Year' and 'Chinese Culture Week' events at the local authorities’ invitation. This latest visit represents another joint engagement with Sri Lanka’s tourism bodies, designed to boost mutual understanding, align shared goals and drive joint collaborative work. Building on progress from this exchange, SCTU will push forward all agreed joint projects. It will further strengthen people-to-people links through Sino-Sri Lankan cultural exchanges and bring fresh impetus to sustainable cultural and tourism education partnership between the two countries.