Tsinghua University signed a five-year contract here on Tuesday with the German multinational Siemens to establish a technology exchange center.

The center will conduct research in rail transportation, waste water treatment, energy conservation, emission reduction, intelligent transportation systems and other fields.

"Cooperation between universities and multinational companies will accelerate the speed of putting new technology into practice. The two sides can learn from each other and achieve a win-win situation," said Zhang Yaoxue, chief director of the higher learning department of Ministry of Education.

(Xinhua News Agency April 16, 2008)