The state-of-the-art facilities and strong research ethos at City University of Hong Kong (CityU) received the highest compliment when Dr Xu Guanhua, Minister of Science and Technology, and CityU’s Honorary Doctor of Science 2006, praised the Applied Electromagnetics Laboratory during a visit on 15 November.

After chatting with faculty and research students from the Laboratory, Dr Xu said he was impressed by CityU’s latest research projects in microwave circuit technology, RFID and wireless communication.

“CityU has recorded a tremendous number of major achievements in both basic and applied research during a very short period of time,” said Dr Xu, an academician at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, adding that he was very pleased to see CityU had leapt 24 places to 154th in the Times Higher Education 2006 World University Rankings. “This success exemplifies the commitment of CityU staff and students,” he said.

Dr Xu was accompanied on his visit to the Laboratory by Professor H K Chang, University President; Professor Chan Chi-hou, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Engineering; Dr Xue Quan, Director of the Applied Electromagnetics Laboratory; and Dr Zhu Guobin, Director of the External Liaison and Cooperation Office.

During the tour, Dr Xue gave a presentation on CityU’s leading basic and applied research projects, covering collaborations with mainland enterprises on low-cost high-performance microwave circuits, wireless communications and antenna. He also described the strong research ambience on campus, highlighting the quality of the faculty experts who are recruited from around the world.

Professor Chan added that CityU had strengthened its collaborations with mainland universities and its recruitment of mainland students. To motivate students to maximize their learning outcomes, CityU was committed to providing the best learning environment for them to conduct research, Professor Chan explained.

During the visit, research students from the Department of Electronic Engineering presented their projects on microwave circuit and RFID readers. Dr Xu encouraged them to work hard, pointing out that one day their projects could become valuable technology for industry.

Professor Chang took the opportunity to tell Dr Xu about CityU’s joint research projects with universities in Shenzhen and Suzhou. “Under the motto Officium et Civitas, CityU strives to nurture professionals for society,” he said. “We look forward to more collaboration with mainland universities in this area in the near future.”

Dr Xu has had a distinguished career. He conducted advanced researches in remote sensing science at the University of Stockholm between 1979 and 1981. He is an expert in remote sensing application and geographical information systems. He has been Vice-Minister of the State Science and Technology Commission; a member of the Chinese Communist Party’s 16th Central Committee; a Fellow of the Academy of Sciences for the Developing World; and a Foreign Academician of the Royal Swedish Academy of Engineering Sciences.