Shanghai Dianji University on Tuesday opened an international center in San Francisco to strengthen cooperation and exchanges with US universities.

The center was set up at the Shanghai Lingang overseas innovation center in downtown San Francisco as part of the strategic partnership between the university and the Shanghai Lingang Economic Development (Group) Co Ltd, the third largest industrial park developer in China.

The center is geared to facilitating the university's internationalization efforts to attract investment and high-end talent, said Sun Peilei, Party chief of Shanghai Dianji University.

Located in the Lingang Area in Shanghai, the university specializes in engineering, science, arts, economics and management. It has one graduate program and 34 undergraduate programs.

Sun said the university had a cooperation agreement with the University of Northern Iowa and Purdue University last year. He said he hopes the center can serve as a "highland" to deepen the relationship with US universities and cooperation with enterprises.

Sun said he planned to send teachers and students to the San Francisco center for training and exchanges with their US counterparts on a regular basis.

Shanghai Lingang launched the innovation center in San Francisco in 2016— its first overseas center — to tap into the resources of Silicon Valley.

Chinese Consul General Luo Linquan said California ranks first among all US states in trade with China. He said the new international center will help promote bilateral cooperation.