On October 22, 2013, in Chengdu, China, the Governor-General the Honorable Quentin Bryce and Mr. Michael Bryce, as guests of the Executive Vice President of Sichuan University, Mr. Li Hong, visited Sichuan University (SCU). Officials from the departments concerned also attended the welcoming ceremony.

On behalf of SCU, Executive Vice President Li Hong extended a warm welcome to Gov­ernor-General Bryce. He expressed the hope that the visit by the Governor-General would promote exchange and cooperation between the West China Center of Medicine, SCU, and the healthcare providers in Australia. He hoped that this visit would lead to the establishment of more high-level research institutions like the Australia-West China Hospital Joint Collier Co­chlear Research Center and help generate high-level research accomplishments such as the implantation of eardrum, which would benefit all humanity.

The Governor-General thanked SCU for the warm reception. She said it was a great pleasure to have the opportunity to visit SCU, a university with such a splendid his­tory. She congratulated the medical staffs at West China Hospital on their remarkable achievements and admirable dedication. She stressed that extensive international co­operation is indispensable for the develop­ment of science and education in the world today. She hoped that China and Australia could work together to promote the devel­opment of the two countries and produce more positive outcomes that would benefit the people worldwide.

The Governor-General visited the Australia-West China Hospital Joint Collier Cochlear Research Center and was given a tour of the facility. Professor Gong Qiyong of West China School of Clinical Medicine gave a presentation on the Australia Collier Cochlear Project at West China Hospital. Governor-General Bryce, then, met with three pediatric patients who had under­gone successful cochlear implantation surgery and had recovered their hearing. The three children showed the Governor- General drawings they had made and also read poems to her. Governor-General Bryce was deeply moved by the commitment shown by the researchers and therapists at SCU to helping these children. She said she sincerely appreciated the Chinese and Australian researchers for their devotion to the project in terms of both research and application of the research results. Thanks to them all, she had the most memorable experience at West China Hospital.

Executive Vice-President Li and officials from the departments concerned accompa­nied Governor-General Bryce on her visit in the afternoon.