On March 20, 16 representatives of Tsinghua SEM, led by Executive Deputy-dean Chen Guoqing, attended a reception in Embassy of Chile inChinaat the invitation of Fernando Reyes Matta, Chilean ambassador toChina. Students of SEM who attended the reception, including 10 MBA students and 2 Ph.D. candidates, will fly toChilefor the exchange program in Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile. The Chief Representative of Bank of Chile inChinaalso joined the reception.

Chilean ambassador Fernando Reyes Matta, as well as the representative of the Chairman of the Bank of Chile, Peter Morse, made presentations at the reception to extend their warmest welcome to SEM teachers and students. Ambassador Matta said the collaboration betweenTsinghuaUniversityand Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile, would promote the two countries’ communications in culture and education, contribute to the understanding of the two sides, and have significance in strengthening the friendly ties betweenChinaandChile.

Executive Deputy-dean of SEM Chen Guoqing expressed thanks for the invitation and hospitality of Chilean side. In his speech, Professor Chen said the exchange between Tsinghua SEM and Business School of Pontificia Universidad Católica deChile, was first of its kind that SEM has signed with a top tier business school inSouth America, which was of great significance to SEM’s internationalization process.

During the reception, SEM students, Chilean students inChina, staff members of Chilean embassy and Bank of Chile had close communications and dialogues with each other.

The exchange agreement between Tsinghua SEM and Catholic University of Chile was signed in November, 2006. According to the agreement, in the next three years, the two schools will send 20 students and faculty to each other for a 10-day-course exchange, which aims at promoting the mutual understanding between the two parties and exchanging experiences in business education.The first batch of exchange students from Tsinghua SEM will leave forSantiagoon April 9^th.

Bank of Chile, the sponsor of the exchange program, is one of the largest banks inSouth Americaand also among the earliest banks to invest inChina. It has been devoted to promoting the communication and cooperation betweenChileandChina.