On August 27, Consul General Gao Yanping accompanied Mr. Zhou Wenzhong, Vice President of the China-US People's Friendship Association and former Chinese Ambassador to the United States to visit the Alabama State University. Consul Wang Peijun of the Chinese Consulate General and Director Hilda C. Lockhart of Alabama International Trade Division, Project Manager Mark Hamer of Arkansas Economic Development Commission, Director Larry Haynes of Kentucky Economic Development joined the visit.

Director Michael Saag of UAB AIDS Center, Director Tim Townes of Department of UAB Biochemistry and Director Gary Warner of UAB Research in Computer Science introduced respectively the most up-to-date research achievements and the challenges posed ahead in the relevant areas. They expressed their sincere hope of establishing academic exchanges and research cooperation with their Chinese counterparts. Vice President Zhou and Consul General Gao also visited the laboratory of the engineering college of Alabama State University.