Leaders of Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU) attend the University Alliance of the Silk Road Presidents' Forum 2021 on Nov 19.

As the Secretariat, Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU) co-organized the University Alliance of the Silk Road Presidents' Forum 2021 with the Polytechnic University of Milan, a member university of the alliance, on Nov 19.

The annual forum has been held for seven consecutive years. This year, it focused on sustainable development and paid more attention to in-depth cooperation between disciplines. 

It received strong support from alliance members and sub-alliances. University leaders from 16 universities of 13 countries and regions attended the forum and exchanged opinions on the topic of sustainable development.

Wang Shuguo, president of Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), delivers a speech at the forum on Nov 19.

XJTU President Wang Shuguo said the world is going through a complicated period intertwining the great changes of world structure and post-epidemic recovery, which has brought new challenges to the development of universities.

Wang said universities need to strengthen their own discipline construction and capacity development, and work together through cooperation platforms such as the University Alliance of the Silk Road to jointly respond to global challenges.

"College students are the future and hope of the world. First-class universities have the responsibility to train the younger generation through high-impact education systems and leadership programs," Wang said.

Ferruccio Resta, president of the Polytechnic University of Milan, delivers a speech via video link.

Ferruccio Resta, president of the Polytechnic University of Milan, said universities should actively assume social responsibilities, exert social influence through talent training, establish a school-enterprise cooperation mechanism in the field of innovation, explore teaching and scientific research projects related to sustainable development, and strengthen cooperation between alliance schools.

Presidents meet online via video link.

Focusing on topics such as the United Nations sustainable development goals and the responsibilities of universities, new measures to promote international student exchanges in the post-epidemic era and school-enterprise cooperation, the participants put forward suggestions on the construction and development of the University Alliance of the Silk Road.

During the forum, there was also an exchange and sharing meeting of sub-alliances in multiple disciplines of the University Alliance of the Silk Road, covering cultural heritage, tourism management, intellectual property, law, the chemical industry, energy, and global health.