The University of Edinburgh, one of the UK's leading universities, will showcase its research excellence on a tour of China. [Provided to China Daily]

The University of Edinburgh, one of the UK's leading universities, will showcase its research excellence on a tour of China next week. Experts in medicine, science and the humanities will present a series of public lectures and academic events in Shanghai, Hangzhou and Hong Kong.

Events are expected to attract alumni, education professionals and business contacts throughout China.

The University of Edinburgh will develop relationships with existing academic partners and embark on new ventures with some of China's leading institutions.

A range of events and meetings will provide an opportunity for Edinburgh to maximise awareness of its academic, teaching and research partnerships in China.

Edinburgh has links with a number of Chinese universities including Nankai University, Tianjin University, Xiamen University, the China Agricultural University, Beihang University and the Beijing Film Academy.

The University is also associated with Peking University, Fudan University and Hong Kong University through the prestigious 'Universitas 21' global network.

"The University of Edinburgh enjoys a long standing relationship with China. An important part of our engagement with China has been the development of major, mutually beneficial links with Chinese universities," senior vice principal, professor Charlie Jeffery, said.

Jeffery said that series of events in Shanghai, Hangzhou and Hong Kong "underpins our commitment to strengthen research and teaching partnerships and reinforce our position as a partner of choice in China and east Asia."

Edinburgh's historic links with China go back to the 19th Century. The first Chinese student to graduate from a British university received his MD from Edinburgh in 1855.

The number of Chinese students at Edinburgh has grown from 408 in 1998/99 to 1,859 in 2015, including 741 students from Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Chinese students are now the largest international group at Edinburgh.