The government of Xi’an, capital of Shaanxi province, and the city’s Northwest University signed a comprehensive strategic cooperation agreement on Monday.

Both have committed to cooperating on a number of projects, including building a biotech platform, national scientific innovation center and high-level think tank.

Wang Yongkang, the city’s Party secretary, said Northwest University has a long history, solid style of study and strong atmosphere for encouraging mass entrepreneurship and innovation.

“Xi’an will make strong efforts to support the school in its efforts to develop into a first-class university,” Wang said.

Guo Lihong, president of Northwest University, said the agreement was an opportunity for the college to serve Xi’an’s economic and social development with its own advantages in science, education and talent resources.

The university, established in 1902, is a comprehensive national key university jointly managed by the Ministry of Education and the Shaanxi government.