President of China Visits the National Graphene Institute at The University of Manchester

Xi Jinping, the President of People’s Republic of China, visited the University of Manchester's National Graphene Institute (NGI) as part of his state tour.

President Xi Jinping was the first Chinese President to visit the University.

He was welcomed by Professor Nancy Rothwell, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University, alongside the Chancellor of the Exchequer, George Osborne, Viscount Hood, the Queen’s Lord-in-waiting, the Chief Commercial Secretary to the Treasury, Lord Jim O’Neill and the Minister for the Northern Powerhouse, James Wharton.

During this visit he toured the graphene research facility and gained insights into the future applications of graphene that are being developed by the University in collaboration with its global industrial partners.

Coincidentally, Huawei, the electronics giant and the largest mobile phone manufacturer in China, announced its partnership with the NGI for research work on graphene and other 2D materials on the same day of the President’s visit.

At present, the NGI has agreements with more than 45 industrial partners. These industrial partners work in close cooperation with the University's academics in the aim of rapidly bringing graphene products to the market.

The University of Manchester was the first place in the world to isolate graphene, which was the first 2D material to be discovered. Graphene shows a higher conductivity than copper and is 200 times stronger than steel. This novel nanomaterial has revolutionized materials science.

The President was also welcomed by senior government officials from China and UK and the Nobel Laureates - Professor Kostya Novoselov and Professor Andre Geim.

The current status of graphene research and the links between the University and Chinese business were highlighted by Kostya. He also presented the President with traditional Chinese artwork, which he had created using graphene paint.

The representatives from the University also demonstrated a raft of graphene based models; including super-efficient street lighting, a mobile phone equipped with a graphene super capacitor for unprecedented charging capabilities and pioneering cancer treatments that use graphene for drug delivery.

The President was also taken on a tour of the NGI’s cleanroom laboratory space spanning 1,500 m². This laboratory space is the largest of its kind in the country to focus on graphene research.

The University has a rich heritage and is proud of the breadth and depth of its links with China. We have almost 4,000 students from Mainland China and 170 Chinese staff. Our research and innovation spans many areas. We have identified five that are distinctive and world leading: advanced materials, including graphene, addressing global inequalities, energy, industrial biotechnology and cancer. In each of these and in other areas we have strong collaborations with leading universities and companies in China. We are very proud of our Confucius Institute, our centre for Chinese studies and the many treasured pieces of Chinese artwork and scripts in our library and art gallery.

Prof. Nancy Rothwell - President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Manchester