Professor Michael Mainelli, the 695th Lord Mayor of the City of London, and JIAO Bo, Executive President of the UK Shaanxi Business Association, visited NWU on the afternoon of March 20. Professor Mainelli presented a "Financial Dragon" sculpture to the university on behalf of the City of London. The event was attended by President SUN Qingwei, Vice President ZHANG Zhifei, representatives from the Protocol Office of Xi'an Municipal People's Government Foreign Affairs Office, and directors and deans of relevant university departments.
During the visit, President SUN Qingwei awarded Professor Michael Mainelli a certificate of appointment as a Visiting Professor of Northwest University, followed by an exchange of commemorative gifts. Vice President ZHANG Zhifei and Professor Mainelli jointly unveiled the “Financial Dragon” sculpture.
Professor Mainelli expressed gratitude for joining Northwest University’s academic community. He emphasized that interconnectivity and shared prosperity are essential pathways for urban and national development in today’s globalized world. He pledged to leverage his expertise in education, finance, commerce, and technology to contribute to the university’s disciplinary advancement and talent cultivation.
Later, Professor Mainelli delivered an academic lecture titled “Connectivity & Cities: How to Build A Successful Technology & Financial Centre” to faculty and students, sharing insights on fostering innovation-driven urban development.
