Upon the 50th anniversary of the normalization of diplomatic relations between China and Japan, from November 28 to 29, the 2022 China-Japan Scientific and Technological Innovation Forum of Universities (former China-Japan Universities Exhibition & Presidents Forum, hereinafter referred to as the Forum) was successfully held online. As the largest non-governmental interschool exchange event between China and Japan, the Forum this year was based on the target of further building an equal, open, and cooperative partnership between Chinese and Japanese universities, with a focus on development topics concerned by the universities of both countries. There was 1 main forum and 2 sub-forums, to which leaders from 12 Chinese universities and 9 Japanese universities were invited to share their ideas and experience online, painting the bright future of the cooperation between Chinese and Japanese universities in fields like education, science and technology, and talents. Moreover, seminars on traditional Chinese medicine, low carbon, agriculture, etc. were also held during the Forum. This Forum was cosponsored by China Association for International Exchange of Personnel (CAIEP) and Japan Science and Technology Agency (JST), organized by Department of Science and Technology of Hubei Province, and executed by Hubei International Science and Technology Exchange Center, Hubei Association for International Exchange of Personnel, and Shenzhen Center for International Exchange of Personnel.
Guests of the opening ceremony and main forum
As close neighbors of each other, China and Japan have always been comprehensively and extensively cooperating in the field of higher education, which is of great help for improving the communication and understanding between the two societies and peoples, the higher education level of the two countries, as well as their sci-tech innovation cooperation and talent cultivation. On this Forum, 21 presidents of Chinese and Japanese universities got together and discussed such topics like how to gather various resources to build world-class universities and disciplines in the post-pandemic era, the new path and new mode of universities’ international sci-tech innovation cooperation and talent cultivation in the post-pandemic era, and how to serve social development by means of the technological and talent advantages of universities. Such discussions provided meaningful references for universities of both countries and even the world in responding to the call of the times and the national development, solving the difficulties in human development, propelling social development, and improving human well-being with strategic and forward-looking insight. On the professional seminars, researchers from 12 Chinese and Japanese universities communicated over 12 scientific research projects, which laid a foundation for the joint research and practical cooperation between the two countries.
Guests of sub-forums
Deputy Director Li Xin of Department of Foreign Expert Services, Ministry of Science and Technology of China, Scientific, Technological, and Academic Director Hiroshi Kitayama of Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan, Deputy Director Xia Bing of CAIEP, Director Akira Koda of JST, Deputy Director Wu Jun of Department of Science and Technology of Hubei Province, and Director Teruo Kishi of JST’s Sakura Science Program attended the opening ceremony and gave speeches online. Kazuki Okimura, founder of the Forum and Honorary President of JST, made a special speech. President Zhang Zongyi of Xiamen University, President Xue Qikun of Southern University of Science and Technology, President Houkin Kiyohiro of Hokkaido University, and President Yasuko Sasaki of Ochanomizu University attended the main forum; Vice President Chen Jianguo of Huazhong University of Science and Technology, Vice President Peng Shuangjie of Central China Normal University, Vice President Li Xiaofeng of Soochow University, Vice President Deng Xiaohua of Nanchang University, President Miki Chitochi of Tokyo City University, President Satoshi Ogawa of Iwate University, Vice President Genta Kawahara of Osaka University, and Vice President Shujiro Shimizu of Kyushu University attended the first sub-forum; Vice President Wu Chaozhong of Wuhan University of Technology, President Li Zhaohu of Huazhong Agricultural University, Vice President Lai Xulong of China University Of Geosciences，Wuhan, Vice President Yin Tongming of Nanjing Forestry University, President Li Xiaonian of Zhejiang University of Technology, President Liu Songlin of Hubei University of Chinese Medicine, Vice President Zhao Qiangfu of University of Aizu, Vice President Toshiya Ueki of Northeastern University, and Vice President Yomi Tsubakishima of Yokohama National University attended the second sub-forum. In addition, experts and scientific 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, Kanazawa University, Kyoto University, Shinshu University, Tokyo University of Agriculture and Technology, Nara Institute of Science and Technology, and Hiroshima University attended the professional seminars.
Guests of seminars
In 2010, JST began to hold China-Japan Universities Exhibition & Forum in the two countries. Since 2017, CAIEP and JST have been cooperating to hold a number of forums in cities like Shanghai, Hangzhou, Guangzhou, and Chengdu, which were participated in by over 5,000 representatives from all circles of China and Japan, including over 130 Chinese university leaders and over 110 Japanese university presidents who gave speeches at the forums, and over 300 Chinese universities as well as more than 160 Japanese universities displayed their technical transformation achievements at the exhibitions. The Forum was suspended in 2020 and 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In May 2022, the two countries decided to continue the China-Japan Scientific and Technological Innovation Forum of Universities, so as to practically promote the two countries’ joint research in industry-university-research cooperation, sci-tech and cultural exchange, and talent exchange, thus contributing to our win-win cooperation in a wider range and on a higher level.
