ZJU President DU Jiangfeng Leads Delegation for Academic Forums in Hong Kong
From December 8 to 11, DU Jiangfeng, president of Zhejiang University, visited Hong Kong to attend the 2023 Annual Meeting of the Association of University Presidents of China (AUPC) and the Forum on Building World-class Universities.
The 2023 AUPC Annual Meeting, supported by the Ministry of Education and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (HKSAR) government, was held at the Chinese University of Hong Kong on December 10. Present at the meeting were distinguished guests, including CHEN Jie, vice minister of the Ministry of Education; Christine Choi, secretary for Education in the HKSAR; representatives from the Ministry of Education and presidents of AUPC member universities.
DU Jiangfeng delivered a keynote speech titled “Zhejiang University’s Practices in Cultivating Outstanding Innovative Talents in the Context of Globalization”. He emphasized the crucial role of cultivating top-notch talents in constructing a world-class university. He shared the University’s approach to nurturing individuals with profound fundamental knowledge and inter-disciplinary skills, breaking down multiple barriers through industry-education integration training, promoting innovation-based entrepreneurial education, and pursuing locally-oriented international education.
Furthermore, DU Jiangfeng chaired the 2023 AUPC Annual Council Meeting, where the progress of the annual work was reported and discussions were held on topics such as recruiting new members.
During his stay in Hong Kong, DU Jiangfeng was also invited to attend the Sino-U.S. University Presidents’ Dialogue under the theme of “the Shared Future of Sino-US Universities through Collaboration and Partnership”. At this event, he showcased the University’s initiatives in sustainable development, and emphasized the broad prospects for cooperation between China and the United States in addressing major challenges for mankind. He stressed that high-level universities in both countries should play a pivotal role in making significant contributions to promoting the progress of human civilization and global sustainable development.
DU Jiangfeng also participated in a forum co-organized by the Ministry of Education and the Hong Kong Education Bureau for mainland and Hong Kong universities. He introduced the University’s exchange and cooperation programs with Hong Kong, and suggested further leveraging Hong Kong’s role as a bridge between the East and the West. This, he emphasized, could create a window for global cooperation and promote cooperation between the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong, and the world.
In a landmark celebration of its 60th anniversary, the Chinese University of Hong Kong hosted the Diamond Jubilee University Presidents’ Forum, which brought together 32 university presidents hailing from 18 countries and regions spanning six continents, with over 120 global academic leaders and key stakeholders in attendance. DU Jiangfeng was invited to attend the forumthemed “Innovation and Edupreneurship: The Shifting Research and Education Agenda”.