On May 23^rd 2024, a ceremony to sign a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Shenzhen University and the University of Verona was held at the University of Verona, Italy.

Professor Xu Xingzhi (who attended online), the Executive Dean of Shenzhen University Medical School, and Professor Jun Wu, Director of the Department of Burns and Plastic Surgery at The First Affiliated Hospital of Shenzhen University (who attended in person) represented Shenzhen University at the signing ceremony. The Chinese delegation visited the affiliated hospitals of the University of Verona, and were accompanied by Professor Nocini, President of the University of Verona. This visit was of great significance to improve academic collaboration and develop new cooperations between the two institutions.

On May 24^th, the first International Symposium of the Italy-China-Austria Ph.D. Schools was held at the Department of Medicine, University of Verona. Professor Xu Xingzhi (online) and Professor Jun Wu presented academic research projects titled "Regulatory Mechanism of ATR-CHK1 Checkpoint Signaling" and "Can We Do Better in Burn Wound Management? Novel Approaches for Burn Wound Evaluation and Infection Control," respectively, and gave a detailed introduction to Shenzhen University and its affiliated hospital. The presentations were met with great enthusiasm by the audience and many students expressed interest in coming to China for exchange programs and to pursue a degree course.

Following the formal recognition of this official collaboration between Shenzhen University and the University of Verona, we anticipate that significant achievements in terms of international cooperation will be made, including international academic conferences and student/staff exchanges between the two institutions.

This collaboration has also garnered attention from local Italian media, with the VERONA SERA reporting.