Author：Liu Lang 

Publisher: The Development Planning Department

Date: April 10, 2025

On April 8, 2025, Jinan University and the University of Hong Kong (HKU) signed a significant cooperation agreement in the field of law, marking an important milestone in their collaborative relationship. The agreement was finalized during a visit by Jinan University's president, Xing Feng, an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and his delegation to HKU.

(At the symposium)

The delegation was received by HKU's Vice President, Shen Zuojun, who engaged in extensive discussions with the team about collaborative subject development, scientific research, and joint talent cultivation. This agreement signifies the transition from basic exchanges to a strategic partnership between the two institutions.

During the symposium, Xing Feng reflected on the productive collaboration that has developed since the universities first partnered in 2002. He noted the establishment of a comprehensive cooperation network that spans academic exchanges and joint research initiatives. Highlighting HKU's status as a premier international research institution, he emphasized its role as a leader in academic innovation, global governance, and interdisciplinary integration. He expressed hope for further collaboration that aligns with national development strategies and addresses the urgent need for talent in various fields, including artificial intelligence, data security, neuroscience, and international law.

Shen Zuojun extended a warm welcome to President Xing and emphasized Jinan University's vital contributions to promoting Chinese culture and training international talent. He acknowledged HKU's strengths in disciplines such as law, medicine, and artificial intelligence and expressed enthusiasm for deepening resource integration and collaboration with Jinan University. Together, the institutions aim to confront global challenges and contribute to the integrated development of higher education in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

The symposium also featured participation from heads of two national key laboratories at HKU. Professor Xu Aimin, Director of the National Key Laboratory of Biomedical Technology, and Professor Li Meizhen, Director of the National Key Laboratory of Brain and Cognitive Science, shared insights into their respective research directions and cooperation plans, paving the way for enhanced collaboration in biomedicine and neuroscience.

(At the signing ceremony)

In a formal ceremony, the heads of the Law Schools from both universities signed the Exchange Student Agreement between the Law School of the University of Hong Kong and the Law School/Intellectual Property School of Jinan University. This pivotal agreement establishes a student exchange mechanism, facilitating the sharing of legal education resources and the cultivation of globally-minded legal professionals.

Several key academic leaders and functional department heads from both institutions were present at the symposium, underscoring the importance of this agreement in fostering deeper academic cooperation.

President Xing Feng Leads Delegation to Hong Kong Polytechnic University for Collaborative Development Discussions

By Liu Lang |The Development Planning Department

April 10, 2025

In an effort to enhance collaborative innovation among universities in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, President Xing Feng of Jinan University led a delegation to Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU) on April 7, 2025. The visit aimed to explore new pathways for collaboration in line with the double first-class construction and the broader development of the Bay Area. President Teng Jinguang of PolyU, along with Vice President for Research and Innovation, Zhao Ruheng, welcomed President Xing and his team.

(At the symposium)

During the symposium, President Xing expressed gratitude for the warm reception and discussed Jinan University's Overseas Chinese University + Famous University model, which aligns with national strategies and the specific needs of the Bay Area. He highlighted Jinan University’s strengths in biomedicine, network security, and photonics technology, emphasizing its commitment to addressing the region's industrial upgrading and technological innovation needs.

President Teng Jinguang outlined PolyU's achievements in talent cultivation, discipline development, and industry-university integration, noting that its disciplines such as civil engineering and design are globally recognized. He pointed out that PolyU’s intelligent construction technology has been instrumental in landmark projects like the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macao Bridge and has contributed to the Greater Bay Area's dual carbon goals. Teng urged both institutions to leverage their collective strengths to deepen cooperation in scientific research, train high-end talents, and transform technological achievements, thus becoming key drivers of innovation in the region.

(Gift Exchange)

This visit marks a significant upgrade in collaboration between Jinan University and PolyU, moving from project-based initiatives to comprehensive systematic partnerships across multiple fields. The two institutions reached a consensus on several collaborative strategies, including:

1.Research Platform Development: Transitioning from isolated breakthroughs to a clustered approach, leveraging the Jinan University-PolyU Fiber Optic Photonics Joint Laboratory to enhance cooperation in optoelectronics and establish a joint doctoral training mechanism aimed at obtaining national research platform status.

2.Talent Development: Shifting from one-way talent flow to multidimensional integration by implementing joint talent cultivation projects at the university level, including 2+2, 3+1, and 3+2 programs.

3.Industry-Education Integration: Focusing on transforming research results into industry applications, particularly in Zhuhai and the Bay Area, to foster an innovative ecology that combines industry, academia, and research.

A number of academic leaders and heads of relevant departments from both universities attended the symposium to discuss the specifics of enhancing cooperation. Moving forward, Jinan University and Hong Kong Polytechnic University aim to accelerate their collaborative initiatives, contributing significantly to the integrated development of higher education and the establishment of a science and technology innovation center in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.