HUFS opens Korean-Chinese university presidents’forum

At the Forum, the university presidents of Korea and China discussed pending educational issues of Northeast Asia as partners of the New Era and adopted the Seoul Joint Declaration for the expansion of exchange of students between the two countries.

Hosted by the Education Ministries of the Republic of Korea and the People’s Republic of China and conducted by Hankuk University of Foreign Studies, the Forum was attended by over 80 presidents and competent officers of the 37 universities from Korea and more than 70 presidents and competent officers of 25 universities from China.

At the Forum, the participants discussed ways to increase cooperation and exchange between the universities of the two countries on the theme of “Opening of the New Era for Korea and China and Vitalization of Cooperation in Advanced Education.”

Speaking at the Opening Ceremony, President Park Chul of HUFS said, “This Forum bears a great significance in that it is the first meeting since President Park Geun-hye of the Republic of Korea and President Xi Jinping of the People’s Republic of China had their summit meeting late last June.”

President Park Chul then proposed the adoption of a ‘Joint Seoul Declaration’ to expand the Campus Asia activities based on the details of matters discussed at the five Forums of the Korean-Chinese university presidents, including the current one this year and effective operation of the

Korea-China University Presidents’ Forum.

The Forum this year was attended by Minister of Education Seo Nam-soo, President Park Chul of HUFS, Ambassador Zhang Xinsen of China in Seoul,

President Suh Geo-Suk of Chonbuk National University (Chairman of Korean Council for University Education), President Kim Jun-Young of Sungkyunkwan University (chairman of the Korean Council for Presidents of Private Universities) and President Kim Sun-Uk of Ewha Womans University. From the Chinese side came presidents and vice presidents of Beijing University, Fudan University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Sun Yat-sen University, Jilin University, the People’s University of China, Shandong University, Beijing Teachers University and Yanbian University.

Korea-China University Presidents’ Forum is held every year alternately in Korea and China under the auspices of the Ministry of Education of the two countries. Through this Forum, the universities of Korea and China broaden the scope of the understanding between them and have in-depth discussions with a view to promotion of training for highly qualified professionals and a high-level cooperation in the areas of humanities, social science and science and engineering. Thus the Forum greatly contributes to the vitalization of practical academic exchanges between the universities of Korea and China.

Honorable presidents and competent officers of the universities of Korea and China, as the president of the host university of the Fifth Korea-China University Presidents’ Forum, I present my heart-felt gratitude to you all for your kind attendance at the meetings of the Forum today and yesterday.

Since the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries in 1992, Korea and China have made a remarkable development in the relations between the two countries in the past 21 years. Since the inauguration of the new government in Korea, the bilateral relations have become all the closer between the two countries in the political, economic, cultural and diplomatic areas.

At the summit meeting between President Park Geun-hye of Korea and President Xi Jinping of China last June, a Future Vision was proposed for the fruitful development of the relationship between the two countries as Strategic Partners of Cooperation. The Presidents of the two countries agreed to increase cooperation in the area of humanities.

The two Presidents also agreed to establish a Joint Committee of Korea and China for the Promotion of Exchange in Humanities aimed at strengthening a wide spectrum of exchanges between the two countries, including education, tourism, culture, art and sports.

The role of the universities of the two countries is very important for the acceleration of academic exchanges for the future of the two countries. It is because universities train qualified professionals through academic pursuit in free atmosphere, who will assume the responsibility of the future of their country. Exchange of students between the two countries has continuously grown, and now they total 120,000 in number.

His Excellency Minister of Education Mr. Seo Nam-soo expressed his interest in the successful development of Campus Asia, the academic exchange program, which is supported by the governments of Korea and China. As was proposed at the summit meeting of Korea and China, I am convinced that this program should be actively promoted by both Korea and China for the smooth development of the Strategic Partnership relations between the two countries.

I would like to propose the adoption of a Declaration for the Ministry of Education of the two countries to support the expansion of the activities of Campus Asia with the member universities based on the discussions at this and four preceding Forums of the University Presidents of Korea and China.

I would appreciate it if you would kindly give your hand if you agree on this proposal. k