On September 27th, the first Changchun Forum was held at the Song Zhiping Gymnasium of Jilin University. Over a hundred experts and scholars from government, central state-owned enterprises, sister universities, and think tanks gathered for in-depth discussions on the theme “Collaboratively Formulating the ‘15th Five-Year Plan’: Strategic Blueprint and Governance Innovation for High-Quality Development of Universities and Cities.” With the goal to host open dialogues for collaborative innovation that explore new areas for North East China to advance it’s growing STEM progress.
Zhang Enhui, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC Jilin Provincial Party Committee and Secretary of the CPC Changchun Municipal Committee; Li Guoqiang, Party Secretary and Chairman of COFCO Corporation; Tian Hui, Secretary of the CPC Jilin University Committee; Jiang Zhiying, Vice President of China Association of Higher Education; Cai Guowei, Vice Chairman of the Jilin Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and President of Northeast Electric Power University; Gu Gang, Deputy Secretary of the Changchun Municipal Committee and Mayor of Changchun; Liu Yigong, Member of BOD, President of FAW Group, and Deputy Secretary of the CPC FAW; Sun Youhong, President of Southeast University; Ma Yanming, President of Zhejiang University; as well as professors from Jilin University: Guo Konghui, Zou Guangtian, Lin Jun, Sun Zhengyu, Wang Shengjin, Zhang Yishan, and Zhang Fugui, were in attendance, as the opening Ceremony of the Forum was presided by Zhang Xi, President of Jilin University.
In his address, Zhang Enhui stated that universities and cities advance through cooperation with each other. Changchun and Jilin University form an inseparable community where ‘each is intertwined with the other,’ ‘mutually dependent and complementary,’ and ‘prosper together in shared endeavor.’ Over the years, Jilin University has taken root in Changchun and served the local region, making significant contributions to the revitalization of its industrial base. In recent years, the university and city have shared a common mission that tackled a plethora of challenges, achieving results in scientific development, technological innovation, and talent cultivation. Presently, Changchun is thoroughly implementing General Secretary Xi Jinping’s directives concerning Jilin’s development, concentrating efforts on building a city strengthened by education, science, technology, and talent. This event provides fertile ground for deepening university-city collaboration, fostering synergistic innovation, and promoting integrated development. It is hoped that the forum will serve as an opportunity to join hands with Jilin University in advancing university-city symbiosis, seizing the high ground in innovative development, and establishing new heights in talent cultivation. The organic integration of Jilin University’s strengths, collective wisdom, and Changchun’s practical experience is expected to spark further innovation and generate abundant outcomes.
In his address, Tian Hui emphasized that the initiation and hosting of the Changchun Forum aim to implement the guiding principles on building a strong education country and promoting the comprehensive revitalization of Northeast China. The forum seeks to pool the wisdom and strengths of universities, enterprises, and the city of Changchun to enhance university-university collaboration, university-enterprise cooperation, and university-locality integration. It aims to achieve deep synergy among education, science and technology, talent, and industry, providing new momentum for building a strong education system and revitalizing Northeast China. Through this forum, it is hoped that academic connections and emotional ties will be leveraged to promote integration across universities, between science and education, between industry and education, between culture and education, and between China and foreign countries. This integration will align the wisdom of universities, the strength of enterprises, and the needs of Changchun, creating a university-enterprise-locality development community and supporting Changchun’s high-quality development. Jilin University will remain based in Changchun, rooted in Jilin, serving the nation, and maintaining a global vision, striving to establish the Changchun Forum as a renowned platform that contributes to first-class universities, first-class enterprises, and the revitalization of Changchun.
Li Guoqiang highlighted that COFCO Group consistently upholds its core responsibilities of safeguarding national food security, promoting agricultural modernization, and providing nutritious food. COFCO has worked closely with Jilin Province and Jilin University, translating General Secretary Xi Jinping’s directives into concrete action to deepen collaboration. Moving forward, COFCO aims to leverage its agricultural expertise to expand strategic cooperation with Jilin Province and Jilin University by tackling key technological innovations, co-building industry-university-research platforms, accelerating the local transformation of scientific achievements, and cultivating talent through Jilin University’s disciplinary strengths. Industrial linkages will deepen to advance Jilin from a major agricultural province to a strong agricultural province, forging a new chapter in government-university-enterprise collaboration.
Liu Yigong, speaking on behalf of FAW Group, emphasized that the enterprise prioritizes national strategies and local development. FAW will promote the high-end, green, and intelligent upgrading of Changchun's automotive industry and support the city in building a world-class automobile cluster. The group will deepen collaborative innovation with universities, research institutions, and leading enterprises, while nurturing talent through initiatives such as Hongqi College and joint master’s and doctoral programs with Jilin University. FAW aims to become a hub where diverse talent can gather, grow, and contribute to high-level technological self-reliance and regional development.
At the forum’s opening ceremony, the Changchun Municipal People’s Government signed a cooperation agreement with Zhejiang University, COFCO Group signed a strategic cooperation framework with Jilin University, and Beijing Normal University signed an agreement in basic education with Jilin University. These agreements are expected to promote practical collaboration across universities, local communities, and enterprises, fostering innovation in science, technology, and industry.
The forum also featured keynote presentations highlighting exemplary practices from leading universities. Gu Gang introduced Changchun’s development promotion, while Sun Youhong showcased Southeast University’s achievements in disciplinary construction and commercialization of technology. Ma Yanming shared Zhejiang University’s experience in building a first-class university, and Wang Shoujun of Beijing Normal University discussed achievements in basic education. Guan Haibing from Shanghai Jiao Tong University outlined innovative approaches from the university’s 15th Five-Year Plan, while Zhang Junfeng of Ocean University of China presented OUC’s model for talent cultivation, scientific research, social service, and open cooperation. Wang Yi of the People’s Public Security University of China shared insights into characteristic disciplinary systems and high-quality development frameworks, and Lin Wei of Southwest University of Political Science & Law discussed practices in disciplinary construction and talent cultivation guided by national strategic needs.
The keynote session was chaired by Cai Lidong, Executive Vice President of Jilin University. Prior to the opening ceremony, attending leaders and guests visited the “Exhibition on High-Quality Development Achievements of Universities and Cities.” Participants included senior executives from Jilin Province and Changchun City, leaders from partner universities, university leadership from Jilin University, functional department representatives, and faculty and student delegates.
