On 5th November, the eve of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy, Tsinghua University and the Politecnico di Milano co-hosted the China - Italy University Presidents’ Forum.

With the theme “Innovation for Shared Future”, the online forum brought together over twenty leaders from higher education institutions in China and Italy to celebrate the fruitful partnership between the two countries in the field of science, education, and culture in the past 50 years, as well as to explore cooperation in the next half-century that paves the way for a shared future.

Chen Xu, Chairperson of the Tsinghua University Council, and Ferruccio Resta, Rector of the Politecnico di Milano and President of the Conference of Italian University Rectors, delivered opening remarks at the forum.

“The friendship between China and Italy has flourished for thousands of years. The ancient Silk Road witnessed an enduring cultural exchange between the two countries. The mutual support Chinese and Italians offered each other since the outbreak of COVID-19 is a demonstration of the comprehensive partnership we formed,” Chen said in her remarks. “During the past years, Tsinghua has forged extensive and in-depth cooperation with Italian universities in various forms. The China-Italy Design Innovation Hub Tsinghua established in collaboration with the Politecnico di Milano has become a flagship program between the two universities and the two countries.”

“The profound changes, instabilities and uncertainties we are facing in the world today remind us constantly of the importance of unity,” Chen pointed out, “This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Italy. The cooperation in technological innovation between the two countries is set to usher in greater latitude. Tsinghua is willing to keep working together with our partners from both China and Italy to promote global sustainable development.”

Ferruccio Resta reflected on the partnership Politecnico di Milano had with Tsinghua in his remarks. “COVID-19 does not only pose the threat to the world but also offers an opportunity to transform,” he said, “The successful partnership between Tsinghua and the Politecnico di Milano has laid a solid foundation for us to shoulder together the responsibility of higher education institutions in navigating the changes, leading the transformation, and in shaping universities that face the future.”

Following the opening remarks, the forum witnessed the launch of the China-Italy Year of Youth Innovation & Entrepreneurship, a year-long program, organized by the China-Italy Design Innovation Hub and the Innovation & Entrepreneurship Education Alliance of China, that aims to gather collaborative strength across the world to make strategic contributions for innovation-driven development by creating a favorable ecosystem, promoting exchanges between Chinese and Italian youth, and cultivating leading talents.

Two keynote speech sessions were organized afterwards. Yang Bin, Vice President and Provost of Tsinghua University, together with Giuliano Noci, Vice President of Politecnico di Milano, moderated the forum.

The first one addressed the topic of “Innovation from a Global Perspective”. Liu Jiongtian, President of Zhengzhou University, Zuo Wei, Chairman of the University Council of Southeast University, Guido Saracco, Rector of the Politecnico di Torino, Duan Xianzhong, the President of Hunan University, Guo Yurong, Chairperson of the University Council of the Southern University of Science and Technology, Sergio Cavalieri, Vice Chancellor of the Università degli Studi di Bergamo, Norman Tien, Vice-President and Pro-Vice-Chancellor of the University of Hong Kong, Alessandro Paccagnella, Vice Rector of the Università degli Studi di Padova, Bruno Botta, Deputy Rector of the Università degli Studi di Roma “La Sapienza”, and Li Weiqing, Vice President of South China University of Technology, attended the session. The participants reflected on the benefit their universities gained from the enduring China-Italy friendship and shared innovative measures in boosting scientific research and development, improving talents nurturing outcomes, and enhancing university management.

The second session, with the topic of “Trans-Discipline Innovative Practice”, saw a vibrant discussion on the importance, urgency, and successful cases of trans-discipline innovation by Li Yanrong, President of Sichuan University, Andrea Prencipe, Rector of Luiss University,  Fan Di’an, President of the Central Academy of Fine Arts, Alessandra Scagliarini, Vice Rector of Alma Mater Studiorum - Università di Bologna, Lei Xinghui, Vice President of Tongji University, He Lianzhen, Vice President of Zhejiang University, Liu Lanjuan, Vice President of the Shanghai University of Finance and Economics,  Giovanni Breglio, Vice Rector of the Università degli Studi di Napoli “Federico II”, and Zeng Chenggang, President of the Shanghai Academy of Fine Arts at Shanghai University.

The forum closed with remarks by Giuliano Noci. He shared his expectations for the China-Italy Design Innovation Hub as well as future cooperation between China and Italy. “Located at the two ends of the ancient Silk Road, China and Italy share a long-lasting friendship and should be regarded as one big family. Taking today’s forum as the starting point, let’s work hand in hand in contributing towards the post-pandemic world,” he said.

Writers: Cassandra Ler, Lin Lu
Editors: Sangeet Sangroula, John Olbrich