Peking University, Oct. 25, 2018: The 2018 Summit of Presidents of Beijing and Hong Kong Universities was held at the Beijing International Hotel in October 24th. The summit was hosted by the Beijing Municipal Commission of Education and Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality and co-organized by Peking University and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology.
In response to President Xi Jinping’s directive on promoting and strengthening scientific and technological cooperation between Hong Kong and the Mainland, the Beijing-Hong Kong University Alliance held the Summit as a high-level communication event. Focusing on innovation in science and technology, cooperation in scientific research, and cultivation of talent, the Summit is also included in the framework of the Beijing-Hong Kong Economic Cooperation Proseminar.
Group photo of the attendees
Nearly 300 people attended the summit, including Liu Zhiming, deputy inspector of the Department of Educational, Scientific and Technological Affairs of Hong Kong Liaison Office, Zheng Jichun, executive vice secretary of Beijing Municipal Commission of Education, and Choi Yuk-lin, deputy of the Hong Kong Education Bureau,Ye Jingyi, vice chairman of Peking University Council, Shi Wei, president of the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology and other relevant leaders, representatives of the Beijing-Hong Kong University Alliance, scholars, and students.
The opening ceremony of the summit was hosted by Yin Fei, inspector of Hong Kong and Macao Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Beijing Municipality. Zheng Jichun and Choi Yuk-lin delivered opening remarks for the summit.
After the opening ceremony, the representatives of the participating universities communicated on the themes of “Scientific and Technologic Innovation and Research Cooperation” and “Entrepreneurship Innovation and Talent Cultivation”.
In the first forum, Shi Wei gave a keynote speech, proposing that the universities in the two cities should extend teaching, further cooperation, and promote exchange. Shi also put forward specific measures such as mutual recognition of credits and university-government collaboration on inaugurating enterprises. Xu Huibin, President of Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, talked as a guest of the forum and proposed to increase cooperation between the two cities through official channels and with practical links, hoping to strengthen exchanges between students of the two cities. He also suggested that the Alliance establish Medical and humanities sub-centers and sub-forums in order to promote in-depth exchanges and refine cooperation.
The second sub-forum
In the second Forum, Dong Qi, president of Beijing Normal University, put forward his understanding of innovation and entrepreneurship. Dong analyzed the problems on curriculum reformation, faculty evaluation, and student training, and affirmed the important role of the Alliance in the cultivation of innovative and entrepreneurial talents. Stephen Yan-Leung Cheung, President of the Hong Kong University of Education, put forward suggestions for the future development of universities in Beijing and Hong Kong from the aspects of improving teachers’ ability, integrating science and technology into education, fostering entrepreneurship, and strengthening international cooperation.
After the two forums, dialogue and free questioning sessions were held. The heads of various universities in Beijing and Hong Kong dialogued around the theme of the summit and exchanged ideas with the students. The school leaders and students further participated in a discussion on practical issues, including the future development of the two major cities and the cultivation of innovative talents.
On the same day, the launch ceremony of the Beijing-Hong Kong University Alliance Contact Center was held at the opening ceremony. Jointly established by the Beijing-Hong Kong University Alliance and the Beijing Collaborative Innovation Institute， the Contact Center aims to give full play to the advantages of the platform and further promote cooperation in scientific research and personnel training between Beijing and Hong Kong. Under the witness of leaders from relevant departments of the two cities, Ye Jingyi and Shi Wei jointly announced the establishment of the Center.
Background Information:
The Beijing-Hong Kong University Alliance was established in April 2018. It is a non-profit university cooperative alliance formed voluntarily by universities of Beijing and Hong Kong. The alliance consists of 12 Beijing universities including Peking University, Tsinghua University, and Renmin University of China, as well as 8 Hong Kong universities including the University of Hong Kong, the Chinese University of Hong Kong and the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology. With the aim of bringing together elite universities in the two cities and achieving mutual benefit and win-win results, the Alliance is committed to further deepening the exchanges and cooperation in the field of personnel training and scientific research among member universities, pursuing the technology innovation strategy, endorsing the “One Belt, One Road” initiative, and promoting cooperation between the two cities.
Written by: Wu Sihong
Edited by: Zhou Yijing
