The 2024 China Hubei-South Asia University Presidents Forum officially kicked off on October 17 at the Three Gorges University. The forum gathered university presidents, experts, and business representatives from nine countries to engage in discussions on themes such as “Creating Development Opportunities Together” and “Leading the Future of Education.”
The event highlighted that South Asian students make up approximately 30% of the international student population in Hubei. In recent years, there has been significant collaboration between universities in Hubei and those in South Asia, yielding fruitful outcomes. This cooperation in higher education provides vital intellectual support and talent for Hubei’s involvement in the Belt and Road Initiative.
He Weijun, the Party Secretary of Three Gorges University, expressed hope that this forum would further advance practical cooperation among universities in areas like inter-campus exchanges, talent development, academic collaboration, and research partnerships.
Durba Kumar Gautam, the President of Mid-West University in Nepal, noted that the forum’s discussions on expanding cooperation would promote knowledge advancement, improve social welfare, and contribute to building a sustainable future.
During the main forum, presidents and experts from Three Gorges University, Sri Lanka’s Sabargamuwa University, Wuhan University, and the Nepal Army Institute of Health Sciences delivered keynote speeches addressing topics such as international talent cultivation, the digital transformation of education, and regional cooperation and development. The day also featured two parallel sessions where attendees shared their experiences in educational innovation, talent development, scientific research, and digital education.
Institutions from Nepal, Bangladesh, and other nations signed agreements with universities in Hubei to enhance collaboration and exchange between Hubei and South Asian universities. The forum also released the “Yichang Initiative,” aiming to promote higher-level, deeper, and broader educational cooperation and exchanges between Hubei and South Asian countries, forging a new benchmark for coordinated regional development in the new era.
