On 16 October 2025, the University of Crete (UoC) hosted a delegation of five faculty members from the Department of Chemistry at Tsinghua University, Beijing, marking another important step in the growing academic collaboration between the two institutions.

The delegation included Prof. Huaping Xu (Department Chair), Prof. Zhaohui Wang, Prof. Chanjuan Xi, Assoc. Prof. Yu Xiang, and Assoc. Prof. Mingtian Zhang, whose expertise spans polymer chemistry, organic functional molecules and devices, transition-metal-enabled synthesis and CO₂ activation, oligonucleotide chemistry, and catalytic transformations.

The visit began with a welcome session at the Faculty of Science and Technology, where Prof. Maria Vamvakaki, Vice-Rector of the University of Crete, greeted the guests alongside Prof. Georgios Vassilikogiannakis (Chair, Department of Chemistry), Assoc. Prof. Konstantinos Stoubos (Deputy Chair, Department of Materials Science and Engineering), Assoc. Prof. Ioannis Pavlidis and Prof. George Petekidis. Faculty members presented the research activities and facilities of their departments, followed by the introduction of the visiting team’s research areas.

The day featured two scientific colloquia:

• “Light-Induced Synthesis of Carboxylic Acids Using CO₂” by Prof. Chanjuan Xi (Department of Chemistry).
• “Non-Carbon Backbone Polytelluroxane” by Prof. Huaping Xu (Department of Materials Science and Engineering).

Discussions and lab visits followed, focusing on shared research interests in polymers, materials, soft matter, and catalysis, as well as potential student and faculty mobility programs.

This visit continues the academic dialogue initiated during Prof. Vamvakaki’s visit to Tsinghua University in 2024, and highlights the University of Crete’s commitment to advancing international research partnerships in chemistry and materials science.

The visit was organized by the Welcome Office of the University of Crete.