On 3 September 2016, then Italian Prime Minister Matteo Renzi visited Tongji University for the inauguration of the 10th Anniversary Ceremony of TJSIC. Rectors and delegations from Polytechnic University of Turin, Polytechnic University of Milan, University of Bologna and University of Florence, and Yang Xianjin, the Secretary of the Party Committee of Tongji University attended the ceremony. Renzi expressed appreciation for the accomplishments of Tongji University in educational, technological and cultural cooperation with Italy during the past 10 years.

Renzi gave a speech to about 300 Chinese and international students, faculty and alumni on Sino-Italian friendship cooperation between higher education institutes, acknowledged mutual beneficial cultural influence of the two countries and encouraged further cooperative development, and answered questions about career planning and studying in Italy.

3 undergraduate Sino-Italian double-degree programs (POLITONG and ALMATONG) kick-started with the beginning of the semester.