Prof. Lih J. Chen, President of NTHU in Taiwan, led a team of delegates to visit Tsing Hua in Beijing, China. This was a fruitful trip, as not only was a co-signed agreement made with Beijing Tsinghua University for both institutes to establish joint laboratories, but a great initiative to launch a dual-degree program was made as well. This represents the first time a university in Taiwan has signed a dual-degree agreement with their counterpart in China.

Although the appropriate law has been passed by the Legislative Yuan on August 19^th, universities on both sides of the strait can utilize the double-degree measure before the Ministry of Education announces the Mainland Chinese Student Admission Plan. Our friendship with Tsinghua University in Beijing has always been excellent, not to mention our frequent academic exchanges.

Tsinghua Universities on both sides of the strait have great international academic reputations. The signing of the agreement will greatly benefit students from both campuses. Soon both institutes will announce the implementation of the Dual-Degree Program. Our school will adhere to the principles of equality, mutual benefit and friendly spirit of cooperation; each year 10 Graduate Students will be recommended by both Tsinghua Universities to pursue a joint dual Master's degree program.

Those who accompanied along with the visit to Beijing also included the following professors from our campus: Vice President of Academic Affairs, Dr. Chien-Hong Cheng; Dean of Research and Development, Dr. Felix Gwo; Dean of International Affairs, Dr. Wong Wei-Chung; Director of the Computer and Communication Research Center, Dr. Jang-ping Sheu; Director of the Biomedical Engineering Center, Dr. Wen-Ching Wang ; Director of the Center for Energy and Environmental Research,Dr.Ji-Jung Kai; Dr. Nen-Fu Huang from the Department of Computer Science; Dr. Huang-You Chang from the Institute of Molecular Medicine; and Dr. Chen-Chi Ma from the Department of Chemical Engineering. In addition, Academician Hsing-Jien Kung Gong of Academia Sinica went along as well. Professors from both institutions seized the valuable opportunity to conduct more exchanges. Through communication and sharing of information, both sides have gained deeper understanding of each other's particular research strengths, which will pave the way for further cooperation between NTHU and Tsinghua.