The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen held its 10th anniversary ceremony and development forum at Liwen Hall on March 23. Graced with the attendance of more than 1000 guests from all walks of life, the ceremony, themed on “gratitude”, was a joyous event to celebrate a decade of success of CUHK-Shenzhen.

After the ceremony, the University organized a forum to commemorate the 5th anniversary of the issuance of the "Development Outline Plan for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area" and the Development Forum, where guests discussed the themes of "Joining Hands to Build an International Hub for Higher Education" and "Cultivating Innovative Talents to Foster Internationalization".

Academician Han Qide, honorary chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology, Qin Weizhong, deputy secretary of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee and mayor of Shenzhen, Professor Rocky S. Tuan, Chairman of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen and Vice-Chancellor and President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, and Professor Laurence J. Lau, former Vice-Chancellor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, attended the conference and made speeches.

Lee Ka-chiu, Chief Executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, extended his blessings to the University via video. Professor Yangsheng Xu, President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, delivered a speech titled “Decade of Success, Fusion of Innovation”.

President Xu expressed his gratitude to all friends who have cared for, supported, and assisted with the development of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen with a heartfelt "Thank You!" He also invited a group of distinguished guests who have made significant contributions to the University to come on stage, where they were awarded honorary medals.

The recipients of the Special Contribution Award from the University include Professor Li Kwok-cheung, Professor Yeo-Chi King, Professor Lawrence J. Lau, Professor Joseph J. Y. Sung, Professor Rocky S. Tuan, Mrs. Carrie Lam Cheng Yuet-ngor, Professor Yin Xiaojing, Professor Wu Qidi, Professor Song Hai, Dr. Wu Yihuan, and Professor Liu Yingli. They are the designers, founders, and individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the birth of this University.

 Honorary academicians of the University, including Mr. Tu Huilong, Professor Kenneth Young, Professor He Jishan, Professor Tong Shuk Yin, Mr. Ling Guoqiang, Ms. Qiao Xue, Mr. Li Hanfa, Mr. Jiang Kuncheng, and Mr. Lee Yin Yee, have helped the University grow to prosperity and moved it a step closer to becoming a world-class University. They are individuals who have made outstanding contributions to the development of the University.

After the conference, The Chinese University of Hong Kong Chorus, the Chorus of CUHK-Shenzhen, and their orchestras presented the 10th anniversary celebration with a performance themed ‘Imagination’.

Academician Han Qide, Honorary President of China Association for Science and Technology, representatives of the teaching staff from both campuses, including Professor Rocky S. Tuan, Vice-Chancellor and President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, K.C. Yuen, Vice-President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, Academician Ben Zhong Tang, dean of the School of Science and Engineering, together with faculty and students from the School of Music joined the guests in singing "Pearl of the Orient." The strong bond between Shenzhen and Hong Kong was captured by the song, which collectively narrated the story of "one brand, two campuses" and 10 years of integrated development. Participants were able to imagine the future and inspired to pursue their dreams together.

Academician Han Qide, honorary chairman of the China Association for Science and Technology: Reform, innovation, and pioneering spirit

Academician Han Qide, honorary president of the China Association for Science and Technology, delivered a speech. Han first emphasized the importance that China has placed on education since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and the core position of education in national development. He pointed out that since its establishment 10 years ago, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen has fully leveraged the advantages of "One Country, Two Systems" and the mechanisms for cooperative education. It has successfully introduced a top-tier academic system, focused on gathering leading talent, prioritized the development of emerging disciplines, and vigorously carried out internationalized educational construction.

The University has made outstanding contributions to the construction of a high-level talent hub and international science and innovation center in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, adding a spirited temperament to the city of Shenzhen.

Han praised the rapid development of the University over the past 10 years and offered suggestions for future development, which included summarizing experiences to further unite around goals, adhering to the unique characteristics of the University, placing liberal arts education for undergraduates at the heart of the University's work, fully utilizing the advantages of higher education cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong, continuously innovating educational systems and mechanisms, conducting extensive and in-depth international cooperation, and drawing on the successful experiences of Universities in the world's other three bay areas to support regional development. These suggestions would make tangible contributions to the acceleration and transformation of development in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area.

He looks forward to the University continuing to reform, innovate, and pioneer while striving to become a world-class University with Chinese characteristics.

Shenzhen Mayor Qin Weizhong:  To establish a world-class research University based in Shenzhen and facing the world

Qin Weizhong conveyed congratulations to CUHK-Shenzhen on behalf of the CPC Shenzhen Municipal Committee and the Shenzhen Municipal People's Government. He stated that, facing new situations and standing at a new starting point, he hoped CUHK-Shenzhen would fully implement the Party's educational policies, fulfill the fundamental task of fostering virtue through education, and coordinate the integrated development of education, science, technology, and talent.

He called for accelerating efforts to build a world-class research University rooted in Shenzhen and facing the world. He also hoped for new achievements in comprehensive higher education reform, high-level technological self-reliance and self-improvement, and tighter cooperation between Shenzhen and Hong Kong. Shenzhen will, as always, support the reformative and innovative development of the University, joining hands to make new and greater contributions to the building of a strong educational nation, a strong scientific and technological nation, and a talent-strong nation.

Mr. Lee Ka-chiu, chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region: Shenzhen Hong Kong collaboration, inheritance and innovation

Mr. Lee Ka-chiu, the chief executive of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, delivered a speech via video. He expressed high praise for the achievements that CUHK-Shenzhen has made over the past decade and emphasized the importance of talent and education in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area. Lee mentioned that The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen not only inherited the fine traditions and academic system of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, but has also cultivated a large number of innovative talent with international perspectives, Chinese traditions, and a sense of social responsibility.

It serves as a successful example of higher education collaboration and innovative talent cultivation in the Greater Bay Area, providing strong support for high-quality regional coordinated development. By sharing valuable experiences in collaborative education, it will promote deeper and broader cooperation among Universities in Guangdong, Hong Kong, and Macao, offering solid talent and innovation support for the country's long-term development. Lee also mentioned several measures introduced by the SAR government to support the development of higher education including employment arrangements for graduates from Universities in the Greater Bay Area. Finally, he thanked everyone who has contributed to the establishment and development of CUHK-Shenzhen and expressed a wish that the University will continue its legacy and achieve further success!

 

Professor Rocky S. Tuan, Chairman of the Governing Board of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Vice-Chancellor and President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong: Inherit Traditions, Unite in Dream Building

Professor Rocky S. Tuan, chairman of the Governing Board of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, and Vice-Chancellor and President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, delivered a speech in which he reflected on the bold and historically significant decision made by The Chinese University of Hong Kong 10 years ago to become the first University from Hong Kong to establish a campus on the mainland. He fully acknowledged the achievements of CUHK-Shenzhen over the past 10 years in education. Under the guidance of CUHK's spirit, it has inherited its academic system and educational philosophy and cultivated young talents for the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area and the nation.

The two Universities have been closely linked by a common dream. They are jointly building "one brand, two campuses" and serving as a successful model for the integration of Hong Kong's higher education system into national development. Professor Tuan thanked the Ministry of Education, the Guangdong Provincial Government, the Shenzhen Municipal Government, and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government for their strong supports of CUHK-Shenzhen. He expressed gratitude to all teachers, students, and friends from all walks of life who have worked together during the University's challenging first years. He also wished the University a future of continued progress as it begins another decade of endeavor and towards a glorious centenary.

In his speech, Professor Lawrence J. Lau, former vice-chancellor of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, spoke of his great fortune in having been involved in the establishment of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen. In just 10 years, the University has achieved remarkable accomplishments that reflect the high dynamism and spirit of innovation in China and Shenzhen. "Shenzhen is the only special economic zone that has successfully developed since the reform and opening-up, and Hong Kong's contribution to Shenzhen's success is indispensable. However, Shenzhen's contribution to Hong Kong's future is also indispensable. Cooperation between Hong Kong and Shenzhen is bound to result in a win-win situation. The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen is a prime example. Young people are our future, and educating the next generation is our responsibility, so we must continue to encourage openness to the outside world and promote academic exchange."

Professor Lawrence J. Lau expressed his hope that The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen, under the support of leaders from both Hong Kong and Shenzhen and under the leadership of President Yangsheng Xu, will soon join the ranks of the top 10 most outstanding institutions of higher learning in the world.

Professor Yangsheng Xu, President of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen: Inclusiveness leads to a "global community with a shared future," and innovation results in "new quality productive forces

On behalf of the University, President Yangsheng Xu expressed the gratitude to friends from all over the world who have participated in, witnessed, and helped with the growth of the university, thanking them for their trust, affection, and support.

In his speech, he reminisced about the early years of the University in which the faculty and students adhered to the founding spirit of "passionate dedication, a century-old university, a millennium brand, conscience for eternity." From its beginnings on barren land with a few abandoned factory buildings, the University has grown into an international institution that now spans approximately 1.33 million square meters and boasts six schools, seven colleges, a graduate school, and over 10,000 students and faculty members.

Regarding the future development, President Xu said, "We will comprehensively enhance the global influence of The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shenzhen in all aspects. Academically, we aim to establish 15-20 world-class disciplines and join the ranks of world-class Universities. In terms of research, we will continue to build foundational, cutting-edge, and interdisciplinary research platforms and technology transfer centers in line with the strategic needs of the nation and the Greater Bay Area. We will also continue to deepen innovative cooperation with The Chinese University of Hong Kong and international University partners, transforming the Greater Bay Area into a highland and hub of international higher education. We must strive forward with perseverance and innovation to build this University into a national model of international cooperation in education and achieve the status of an internationally renowned research-intensive University by 2035."