On May 21, the Georgia Institute of Technology (GT) China Summer Program opened at Tianjin University, involving 34 Georgia Tech faculty and students as well as representatives of Tianjin University.  

During the opening ceremony, Zhang Zhen, Deputy Director of the Office of International Cooperation at Tianjin University, said that since the program was initiated in 2010, over 400 faculty and students from GT have studied and experienced Chinese culture at Tianjin University through the program. Deep friendships have been cemented among the faculty and students of both universities.   

Professor John Krige, representing GT, said this was the first time he had come to Tianjin and the rapid urban development in China left him with a deep impression. Yesterday he recounted his visit to the Youth Lake, the Youyi Lake and the Jingye Lake with TJU's student ambassadors. He hoped the inspired concepts of the three lakes might become the main theme of this year's CSP. That is, openness, respect, cooperation and friendship. 

With the China Summer Program, GT faculty and students come to Tianjin, Shenzhen and Shanghai every summer, and Tianjin University participants also go to GT every year through the Atlantic Summer Program (ASP) to learn languages and exchange culture. Following the achievements of the students programs between Tianjin University and GT, the Georgia Tech Tianjin University Shenzhen Institute was founded in December, 2016 in Shenzhen.