Wang Shuguo, president of Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), gives a speech at the plenary session of the 23rd China Annual Conference and Expo for International Education (CACIE) in Beijing on Feb 17.

Wang Shuguo, president of Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), attended the plenary session of the 23rd China Annual Conference and Expo for International Education (CACIE) in Beijing on Feb 17.

Themed "Reshaping Education: Adaptation and Transformation", the event was hosted by the China Education Association for International Exchange (CEAIE) from Feb 16 to 18.

"The fourth industrial revolution has undergone rapid development. Momentous changes  the likes of which have not been seen in a century are accelerating across the world. The COVID-19 pandemic swept countries worldwide. Together, these events have together brought tremendous and profound changes to the international community," Wang said.

He noted that only by fully grasping the development trend of the times will people understand, embrace and seek exchanges, adding that it is crucial for universities at home and abroad to further strengthen science-education and industry-education integration in the pursuit of high-quality development.

At last, Wang said that XJTU will follow the trend of the times, intensify its efforts to explore the building of a new-type world-class university, and promote the development of iHarbour, which is composed of 29 research institutes and plays a vital role in breaking down cross-discipline barriers and advancing integrated development among all relevant sectors.

Xi Guang, vice-president of Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), attends a parallel forum at the plenary session of the 23rd China Annual Conference and Expo for International Education (CACIE) in Beijing on Feb 17.

For his part, Xi Guang, vice-president of XJTU, delivered a speech at the forum on exploring university-industry-research in Chinese and overseas universities on the sidelines of the 23rd CACIE.

He briefed attendees on the birth and development of XJTU and spoke about its efforts to build iHarbour, the University Alliance of the Silk Road, international united laboratories, and the schools of modern industry and future technology in a drive to further advance industry-university-research development in the commercialization of research results.

Over thirty parallel discussions, ten side meetings and five themed exhibitions were held in conjunction with the 23rd CACIE. Those in attendance of the events included Huai Jinpeng, China's minister of education; Patricia Flor, the ambassador of Germany to China; Santiago Irazabal Mouro, president of the 41st session of the UNESCO General Conference; Jiang Xiaojuan, member of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee and deputy director-general of the NPC Social Construction Committee; and representatives from 10 foreign countries.