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On 10 December 2023, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK) and Peking University (PKU) jointly organised the Sino-US University Presidents’ Dialogue on the Hong Kong varsity’s Shatin campus. This momentous event, centered around the theme “The Shared Future of Sino-US Universities through Collaboration and Partnership”, drew the participation of over 30 senior representatives from leading universities and institutions in China and the US.

The event took place within weeks of the bilateral meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit. Leaders from major higher educational institutions in both countries convened to fortify face-to-face exchanges and deepen collaboration to collectively tackle global challenges. Professor Chen Jie, Vice Minister of Education, Ministry of Education of The People’s Republic of China joined the Dialogue as a guest speaker.

CUHK’s Vice-Chancellor and President, Professor Rocky S. Tuan, warmly welcomed the participants. He said “Higher education plays a pivotal role in promoting international exchanges and cooperation, particularly in today’s world marked by geopolitical tensions and mounting global challenges. As the world’s two largest economies and educational powerhouses, China and the US both hold an enormous responsibility in shaping a more interconnected and harmonious world. This meeting is a testament to a shared commitment of all the participating universities to elevate the power of higher education and to find sustainable solutions that benefit not only our nations but also the whole world through open dialogue and collaborative efforts.”

Professor Gong Qihuang, President of Peking University, echoed these sentiments, expressing the shared commitment to advancing higher education and finding sustainable solutions on a global scale. Professor Gong said, “Cooperation in higher education is an important area of cultural exchange between China and the US. Academic cooperation and knowledge sharing between Chinese and American universities should continue regardless of global changes. Facing common challenges and problems, universities in China and the US should collaborate to cultivate research-oriented, innovative talents with a global vision and high standards, and jointly promote scientific and technological innovation, economic development and social progress, thereby contributing to the common welfare of humanity.”

The dialogue featured two panels: “Defining the Role for Universities in Sustainable Development” and “Exploring Sino-US Models for University Collaboration”. These panels delved into the crucial role of universities in advancing green research and technologies, fostering international collaboration to address climate change, and explored successful partnerships between Chinese and American universities.

Distinguished speakers from C9 League, University of California, Los Angeles, University of Chicago, and University of Pittsburgh, among others, enriched the dialogue with their insights.

CUHK’s historical ties with the US, dating back to its establishment in 1963, were highlighted. Founding Vice-Chancellor Professor Li Choh-ming, formerly from the University of California (UC), Berkeley, integrated the American tertiary education model into CUHK’s unique approach to learning and teaching. Today, CUHK’s student exchange partnerships with over 50 US universities facilitate cross-cultural learning experiences.

Moreover, robust collaboration in research and knowledge transfer between CUHK and US institutions was emphasised. CUHK is actively involved in four InnoHK Centres in collaboration with esteemed US partners—Johns Hopkins University, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, the University of Chicago, and UC Berkeley—applying world-class research discoveries to make a translational impact in biomedicine, robotics, and AI on a global scale. This collaborative effort aligns with the Hong Kong government’s HK$10 billion flagship InnoHK initiative to establish Hong Kong as a global innovation hub.