A grand signing ceremony was held at the Great Hall of the People to commemorate the first anniversary of the co-operative research project agreement between Tsinghua University and Suitomo Corporation of Japan. Since 2007, Tsinghua University and Suitomo Corp. have conducted a series of joint research projects and the results have recently been published. Many senior figures attended the event including the president of Suitomo Corp, Mr Motonosuke and Chief of Suitomo Corp China operations, Mr Kitagawa. Director of Tsinghua SPPM Institute of International Strategy & Development, Professor Yu Yongda and Director of Office of International Cooperation & Exchange, Ms Meng Bo also attended the event and delivered a speech.  Suitomo Corporation with its 120 years history is one of the biggest trading companies in Japan and is a leader in science and technology especially in the cause of environmental protection and in the promotion of  the ‘recycling/circular economy’ Last year its annual sales reached $84b US dollars.