[Photo provided to China Daily]

UC Davis and ZJU set up a "3+2" program, in which students could study in several fields and end up with an undergraduate degree from ZJU and a master's degree from UC Davis.

"We are discussing possible collaborations in tea science and tea culture with ZJU now," Hexter said.

About 3,500 Chinese students are studying at UC Davis today. "It is very important for students to have international experience," he added.

"To improve the quality of our higher education through internationalization is in line with the current goals of higher education development in the world," said Song Yonghua, vice-president of the university.

"Nurturing more talents from all walks of life with international vision and global competitiveness is our responsibility."

Professor Klaus Muhlhahn, vice-president of Freie University Berlin, summarized his impression of Zhejiang University with two phrases: "long history" and "ambitious".