President Hisataka Moriwaki and Dr. Fumiaki Suzuki, Executive Director for International Affairs and Public Relations and other delegates from Gifu University visited the University of Salamanca, Spain on November 26, 2018 to attend the MOU and Agreement signing ceremony between Gifu University and the University of Salamanca.

The University of Salamanca is located in the city of Salamanca, west of Madrid, in the autonomous community of Castile and León. The city of Salamanca, including the University of Salamanca was listed as a World Heritage Site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) in 1988. The university faculty buildings are scattered across the city which is filled with vigor and vitalities of young students.

This year marks the 800th anniversary of the University of Salamanca and the anniversary related events were held in Gifu Prefecture on April 14 with the presence of Rector Prof. Dr. Ricardo Rivero Ortega and delegates from the university. President Moriwaki served as Chairman of the 800th Anniversary Event Executive Committee.

Under the agreements, the two universities will soon initiate the faculty and student exchange. "We already have a strong bond with Gifu Prefecture, and I am extremely honored to sign the agreements with Gifu University today at this important juncture of our 800th anniversary," said Rector Ortega. President Moriwaki stated that he is very pleased with meeting with the rector again, and expects a robust, dynamic exchange in the fields that each university excels in.

After the signing ceremony, the delegates visited the university library whose history dates back as early as he 13th century. There, they confirmed the papers and documents on medical herb related to the Mino region and Mt. Ibuki (Gifu Prefecture) whose research activities are defined in the Letter of Intent signed in November 2017.

Their next destination was Centro Cultural Hispano Japonés (Japan-Spain Culture Center, also within the premises of the university) and saw the items on display about local kabuki and mino-washi papers (both represent Gifu's traditional culture and industry).

On November 27, 2018, the delegates visited the New Cathedral of Salamanca where the long-disused pipe organ was restored by the late Mr. Hiroshi Tsuji, an organ builder based in Shirakawa Town, Gifu Prefecture. The music concert hall "Salamanca Halll" was inaugurated in 1994 at the heart of Gifu City to signify a strong friendship between Gifu and the city of Salamanca. It is our strong hope that under the new agreements, the two institutions will be able to enjoy an enduring, thriving relationship in both faculty and student exchange long into the future.