From July 15 to 20, at the invitation of research institutions and partner universities such as the National Research Council (CNR) of Italy and University of York (YORK), President Zhang Rong led a delegation to pay a visit to Italy and Britain to expand cooperation with CNR and promote friendly exchanges with Sapienza University of Rome, Cardiff University, YORK, and University of Cambridge.

During the visit, Zhang also attended the honorary doctorate ceremony of YORK and visited some alumni of XMU in the UK.