The first Forum for Higher Education to promote high-quality regional economic and social development was held in ZMU from August 23 to 25, during the China-Asean Education Exchange Week. The goal was to fully implement the spirit of Document No. 2 New Document of State Council and to strengthen cooperation with high-level universities in China for the promotion of higher education in regional economic development. The opening ceremony was attended by Gong Qihuang, Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and President of Peking University, Li Rui, Standing Committee member of the CPC Guizhou Provincial Committee and Secretary of the CPC Zunyi Municipal Committee, Liu Jin, Director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of the Ministry of Education (Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Office), Director of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan, and Huang Jian, member of the Party Group and deputy director of the Department of Education of Guizhou Province.

The event was presided over by He Zhixu, Secretary of the Party Committee of the hosting university. During the opening ceremony, Li Rui, Liu Jin, and Huang Jian delivered speeches. Notable individuals delivered speeches via video conferencing included Jin Li, Academician of Chinese Academy of Sciences and President of Fudan University, and Zhou Tianhua, Vice President of Zhejiang University. The conference included a keynote report by Academician Gong Qihuang on fostering high-level talents and promoting high-quality regional economic and social development. Special reports on the training of general medicine talents and clinical medicine talents were delivered by senior experts such as Li Jianhua, Vice President of Guangzhou Medical University, and Liu Jianguo, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of Guangzhou Medical University.

As an active participant in the China-Asean Educational Exchange Week since 2008, Zunyi Medical University, has been host to various annual activities and has deepened its exchanges and cooperation with ASEAN countries. The university has joined alliances such as the China-Asean University Medical Alliance, the South and Southeast Asian Medical Education and Health Alliance, and the Belt and Road International Medical Education Alliance, which have facilitated collaborations in the field of medical education and health between the university and ASEAN countries.

Draft | Gong Xi

Editing | Gong Xi

Photography | Zhan Zhanhui

Reviewer |CAI Shanjun, Li Jun, Fu Yangong