During 21-23 August, 2017, the Overseas Chinese Affairs of the State Council of China established a new Advisory Committee as a think-tank of Chinese government for the development of China in the areas of culture, policy, and science & technology. This committee comprises about 300 experts in various fields from all over the world, with nearly 200 of them in the Science & Technology sector. The inauguration ceremony was held in the People’s Congress Hall in Beijing.

Three NUI Galway staff members, Sanbing Shen (Regenerative Medicine Institute), Xinmin Zhan (Civil Engineering) and Chaosheng Zhang (Geography) have been appointed as members of the committee. Afterwards, the Chinese Ambassador to Ireland, Mr. Xiaoyong Yue welcomed the members from Ireland at the Chinese Embassy in Dublin.