CUHK
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The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) hosted the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau University Alliance (GHMUA) online Annual Meeting and Presidents Forum on 10 July 2020. The virtual event brought together more than 170 delegates comprising university leaders and government officials to assess the development of GHMUA with a specific focus on joint efforts in promoting the continuous progress of the Alliance during the post-epidemic period. 

Principal guests joining the opening ceremony included Mr. Xu Yong-Ji, Deputy Director of the Office for Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs, Ministry of Education; Mr. Jiang Jian-Xiang, Director of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR); Mr. Hong Bo, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Education and Youth Affairs, Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao Special Administrative Region; Mr. Zhu Chao-Hua, Deputy Director-General of the Department of Education of Guangdong Province; Dr. Choi Yuk-Lin, JP, Under Secretary for Education in the HKSAR; Mr. Zeng Guan-Xiong, Deputy Director of the Higher Education Bureau in the Macao Special Administrative Region; representatives from the Department of Science and Technology as well as the Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the Guangdong Provincial Government; Prof. Luo Jun, President of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) and Chairman of the Alliance Board; Prof. Rocky S. Tuan, Vice-Chancellor and President of CUHK and Vice-Chairman of the Alliance Board; and Prof. Song Yong-Hua, President of the University of Macau (UM) and Vice-Chairman of the Alliance Board.

Prof. Rocky S. Tuan remarked in his opening speech, “The year of 2020 has been a tough one. The epidemic impact of the coronavirus is enormous on the entire world. Universities are facing new challenges and higher demands, which require quick responses and greater responsibility in education and research from all of us. The pace of linkage and integration between alliance members will not slow down because of the epidemic. As an important member of the great team in the national development plan of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the Alliance will continue to advance the development of science and technology and the cultivation of talent.”

The guests expressed their continued support and commitment to GHMUA, with the hope that the development of the Alliance would bolster the influence of the Greater Bay Area, bringing significant advances in cooperation by drawing together the strengths of the three regions. A virtual  ceremony on the establishment of the Smart Campus Alliance among the member universities was held during the meeting. As the paramount part of the Annual Meeting, the Presidents Forum was held in two panel discussions where presidents of the member universities exchanged views under the theme “Stepping Forward and Facing Difficulties – How to Advance Collaborative Innovation and Educational Development in the Greater Bay Area During the Post-epidemic Period”.

GHMUA was established in November 2016. It was initiated by CUHK together with SYSU and UM as a higher education platform to extend current efforts of elite universities in the three regions to pursue research excellence, nurture young talent, and render community service. Members of the Alliance include 24 universities from Guangdong Province, 9 universities from Hong Kong, as well as 7 institutions from Macao. The Alliance Board Meeting 2020 was chaired by President Luo of SYSU as the Board Chairman before the annual meeting to devise plans for GHMUA. As one of the initiating universities, CUHK has been playing a key role in gathering resources in research and education to propel innovation development and talent nurturing in the Greater Bay Area through the Alliance.