Han Ximin

    ximhan@ 126.com

    AN international forum on the future of higher learning in the Internet age will be held Monday during the China Hi-Tech Fair that will open Sunday in Shenzhen.

    The forum, which attracts university leaders, well-known professors and education experts from 24 universities in 12 countries, will focus on innovation and showcase the educational and scientific research achievements of universities from Shenzhen’s sister cities, the organizer, South University of Science and Technology of China (SUSTC), announced Thursday.

    The opening of the forum, to be held at the Huaxia Hall of Wuzhou Guest House, will also mark the establishment of the Shenzhen International Friendship City University League, which has 27 member universities, including 17 foreign universities. A photo exhibition of member universities will be held at Hall 8 of Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center. The league was initiated by SUSTC and nine other universities, including Shenzhen University, Shenzhen Polytechnic, the Chinese University of Hong Kong (Shenzhen), Shenzhen Information Institute of Technology and the Shenzhen graduate school programs of Peking University, Tsinghua University and Harbin Institute of Technology. (Continued on P3)

    SUSTC will also sign a cooperation agreement with the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston for a five-year comprehension cultivation program.

    The alliance will promote academic, educational and scientific exchanges, in addition to cooperation among member universities. It also aims to promote sustainable development of higher learning education.

    Shenzhen now has 61 sister cities in forty countries. Its first sister city relationship was established with Houston in March 1986.

    The participation of sister cities will enhance the internationalization of CHIF, which will start Sunday and runs until Friday at Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center.

    The fair, said to be China’s top fair for the high tech industry, will showcase the latest high-end technologies and low carbon products. The fair’s organizer will offer free shuttle bus services between Shenzhen Convention and Exhibition Center, the fair venue and Hong Kong to benefit overseas visitors to the fair. Visitors who are Hong Kong/Macau residents or foreign passport holders should contact Business Travel & MICE Center of China Travel Service (HK) Ltd., the fair’s appointed travel agent in the Hong Kong region, by calling at (+852)28539109.