The 2022 China-Japan University Science and Technology Innovation Forum (formerly the China-Japan University Exhibition and President’s Forum) was successfully held.
To mark the 50th anniversary of the normalization of China-Japan diplomatic ties, the 2022 China-Japan University Science and Technology Innovation Forum (formerly the China-Japan University Exhibition and President’s Forum, or “the Forum”) was successfully held online from November 28th to 29th.
Currently the largest inter-university exchange event between China and Japan, this year’s forum is devoted to deepening the equal, open and cooperative partnership between Chinese and Japanese universities and focused on the development topics that matter to both Chinese and Japanese universities in the post-COVID-19 era.
Featuring one main forum and two sub-forums, the event gathered leaders of 12 Chinese universities and nine Japanese universities virtually to share thoughts and experiences. They have portrayed a promising future of friendly cooperation between Chinese and Japanese universities in the fields of education, science and technology and talents.
In addition, professional seminars on traditional Chinese medicine, low-carbon and agriculture were held during the forum, which was co-hosted by the China Association for International Exchange of Personnel (CAIEP) and Japan Agency for Science and Technology Development (JST), presented by the Hubei Provincial Department of Science and Technology, and implemented by the Hubei Center for International Science and Technology Exchange, Hubei Association for International Exchange of Personnel and Shenzhen Center for International Exchange of Personnel.
As close neighbors across a strip of water, over the years China and Japan have kept the tradition of maintaining multi-level, all-round and wide-ranging communications and cooperation in the field of higher education. Such a fine legacy has played an important role in deepening exchanges and understanding between societies and peoples. It also helped both nations to level up their higher educations, promoted cooperation in scientific and technological innovation and facilitated talent cultivation.
During this forum, 21 presidents of Chinese and Japanese universities discussed how to pool resources and strength to build world-class universities and disciplines in the post-COVID-19 era. They’ve also tapped into a new path and model for international scientific and technological innovation cooperation and talent training in the post-pandemic era, and elaborated on topics such as how to make full use of the universities’ advantages in sci-tech research and talent reserve to serve social development.
The discussions have provided strategic, forward-looking perspectives for the universities in China, Japan and beyond, offering a meaningful reference for universities as they answer to the development of nations and the needs of our time, solve the challenges hindering human development and take on the task of promoting social development and enhancing human welfare.
At the professional seminars, researchers from 12 Chinese and Japanese universities exchanged views on 12 scientific research and cooperation projects, laying a foundation for joint research and practical cooperation between the two sides.
Li Xin, Deputy Director-General of the Division of Foreign Experts of China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, Kitayama Hiroshi, the academic Director of Ministry of Education,Culture,Sports,Science and Technology of Japan; Xia Bing, Deputy Secretary-General of Shanghai Municipal People’s Government; Kouda Akira, member of the council Japan Science and Technology Agency; Wu Jun, Deputy Director of the Department of Science and Technology of the Hubei Provincial People’s Government; Kishi Teruo, the director of Sakura Science Exchange Program of Japan Science and Technology Agency, and other guests attended the opening ceremony of the Forum and delivered video speeches.
Okimura Kazuki, Honorary Chairman of the Japan Science and Technology Agency, made a special speech. Zhang Zongyi, President of Xiamen University, Xue Qikun, President of Southern University of Science and Technology, Kiyohiro Houkin, President of Hokkaido University, and Sasaki Yasuko, President of Ochanomizu University attended the main forum.
Chen Jianguo, Vice President of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Peng Shuangjie, Vice President of Central China Normal University, Li Xiaofeng, Vice President of Soochow University, Deng Xiaohua, Vice President of Nanchang University, Miki Chitoshi, President of Tokyo City University, Ogawa Satoshi, President of Iwate University, Kawahara Genta, Executive Vice President of Osaka University, and Shimizu Shuji, Vice President of Kyushu University attended the first sub-forum.
Wu Chaozhong, Vice President of Wuhan University of Technology, Li Zhaohu, President of Huazhong Agricultural University, Lai Xulong, Vice President of China University of Geosciences, Yin Tongming, Vice President of Nanjing Forestry University, Li Xiaonian, President of Zhejiang University of Technology, Liu Songlin, President of Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Zhao Qiangfu, Vice President of University of Aizu, Ueki Toshiya, Vice President of Tohoku University and Kabashima Hiromi, Vice President of Yokohama National University joined the second sub-forum.
In addition, experts and research teams from Wuhan University, Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Wuhan University of Technology, Huazhong Agricultural University, Nanchang University, Nanjing Forestry University, Hubei University of Chinese Medicine and other Chinese universities joint their Japanese counterparts from Kanazawa University, Kyoto University, Shinshu University, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, and Hiroshima University at the professional seminar.
In 2010, the Japan Science and Technology Agency started to hold Sino-Japanese University Exhibition and Forum in both countries. Since 2017, China Association for International Exchange of Personnel and Japan Science and Technology Agency have cooperated to hold a series of forums in Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, Chengdu and other cities.
A total of more than 130 Chinese university leaders and more than 110 Japanese university presidents attended the forums and delivered speeches. More than 300 Chinese universities and 160 Japanese universities have taken their technology transformation achievements to the exhibitions, which have attracted more than 5,000 Chinese and Japanese representatives.
The forum was suspended for two years in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 outbreak, and was set to be resumed as the China-Japan University Science and Technology Innovation Forum under both sides’ joint decision in May 2022.
The forum is committed to facilitating joint efforts between industry, academia and research institutes and advancing people-to-people exchanges in science and technology and talent exchanges between Chinese and Japanese universities. It vows to contribute to the broader, more advanced and mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Japan.
