Global University Leaders Summit 2026: Fostering Collaboration and Innovation in Higher Education

2026-10-27 19:23 Last Updated At：20:33

Speech by DCS at Global University Presidents and Leaders Summit 2026 High Table Banquet

Following is the speech by theDeputy Chief Secretary for Administration, Mr Cheuk Wing-hing, at the Global University Presidents and Leaders Summit 2026 High Table Banquettonight (October 27):

Click to Gallery

Speech by DCS at Global University Presidents and Leaders Summit 2026 High Table Banquet Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images

Speech by DCS at Global University Presidents and Leaders Summit 2026 High Table Banquet Source: HKSAR Government Press Releases

Source: AI-found images

Your Excellency Mr Jeremi(Former President of the United Nations General Assembly, Mr Vuk Jeremi),President Priscilla Leung (Member of the Legislative Council and Founding President and Chief Executive Officer of the Hong Kong Association for External Friendship, Professor Priscilla Leung), Vice Chairman Augustine Wong (Member of the Legislative Council and Founding Vice Chairman of the Hong Kong Association for External Friendship), distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen,

Good evening! Building on the resounding success of the first Global University Presidents and Leaders Summit in 2024, this year's Summit once again brings together university leaders and senior management from different countries and regions, as well as outstanding young entrepreneurs and student representatives. Wherever you are from, I extend to you Hong Kong’s very warm welcome. Your very presence encapsulates what this Summit is about: connection and collaboration.

Earlier today, the discussion sessions have provided much food for thought for exploring knowledge networks, public-private education ecosystems, policy governance, and the vital role of higher education in developing industry-ready talent for a globalised society. Tomorrow, the dialogue will branch out into the big data challenge and examine cross-sector collaboration, demographic shifts, AI ethics and Hong Kong's strategic legal and youth opportunities. These are not separate conversations but different dimensions of a shared agenda: to bring the Government, industry, academia, research and investment together in cross-sector and cross-border co-operation.

The Northern Metropolis of Hong Kong, and the university town at its heart, provides a concrete foundation to put that co-operation into practice. As set out in Hong Kong's First Five-Year Plan and the Chief Executive's 2026 Policy Address, both announced last month, the Northern Metropolis will be developed with the objective of providing an ideal environment for university towns, innovation and technology, industry, and living, work and travel. Serving as a base and key strategic vehicle for driving high-quality post-secondary education development, it will integrate technological and industry innovation, while attracting international high-calibre talent. The Northern Metropolis will also function as a main platform for Hong Kong to deeply engage in and benefit from the development of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, which, if taken as a single economic entity with a combined GDP (Gross Domestic Product) of US$2 trillion by 2024-25, would have ranked the 16th largest economy, closely after Australia and Spain and before the Netherlands, Saudi Arabia and Switzerland.

At the heart of the Northern Metropolis are three university towns in the San Tin, Hung Shui Kiu and Ta Kwu Ling areas, spreading across an area of over 1000 hectares. These university towns, each with its own focus, will integrate talent cultivation, scientific research, transformation of outcomes and industry development. We will expedite the planning and development of the university towns for the first batch of institutions to move in by 2027-2028.

In addition to accelerating the development of the Northern Metropolis, the National 15th Five-Year Plan has also entrusted the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region with the mission of building an international hub for high-calibre talent. To this end, we will establish the "Study in Hong Kong" brand, and encourage post-secondary institutions to actively organise more exchange activities. We will also continue to make good use of various measures, such as a Funding Scheme for Chinese Mainland and Global Engagement and Student Learning Experience, which has an additional injection of HK$100 million starting from the 2026-27 academic year, to broaden the horizons of Hong Kong students, enhance cross-cultural exchanges on campus, and foster a diverse and inclusive international learning environment.

Dear leaders and guests, what I have said are more than policies, we are opening doors and our arms. Let us work together to build connections that endure beyond this Summit, and transform shared ideas into mutual values.

I wish the Summit great success and you all a chilled evening and a fruitful, thought-provoking time at the Summit. Thank you very much.

Eco Expo Asia 2023: Global Green Technology Leaders Unite for Sustainable Future in Hong Kong.

21st Eco Expo Asia held to reinforce Hong Kong's position as green technology and green finance hub

The four-day 21st Eco Expo Asia is being held at AsiaWorld-Expo, Lantau, from October 26 to 29. Under the theme "Connecting the World for a Sustainable Future", the Expo gathers green technology forces from around the globe, further reinforcing Hong Kong's status as an international hub for green technology and green finance. The event attracted delegations from about 60 countries and regions, including the Chinese Mainland and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations, and participants of the Belt and Road Initiative to exhibit and exchange ideas. More than 300 government officials, environmental industry representatives, experts and academics attended to share their experiences on cuttingedge green technologies and applications, to explore the latest developments and co-operation opportunities in global green technology, and to jointly advance the building of a green Belt and Road.

Speaking at the welcome ceremony today (October 27), the Secretary for Environment and Ecology, Mr Tse Chinwan, said that the Government has formulated the First Five-Year Plan for Economic and Social Development of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (2026-2030) and has introduced four binding environmental targets, which set the bar for promoting green transition, energy reform, as well as making Hong Kong a cleaner and more enjoyable city. He pointed out that the Belt and Road Green Innovation Conference this year was held outside the Chinese Mainland for the first time, serving to connect policy with innovation, technology with investment and expertise with opportunity. Mr Tse said that under "one country, two systems", Hong Kong enjoys close connections with the Chinese Mainland and international markets, leveraging its professional services, financial system, common law system and environmental management experience to act as the "super connector" for international collaboration in green transformation.

The Minister of Ecology and Environment, Mr Huang Runqiu, was also invited to attend the welcome ceremony. The Director of Environmental Protection, Dr Samuel Chui, introduced at the ceremony the Government's latest achievements in and aspirations for jointly building a green Belt and Road. He pointed out that high-quality development of the green Belt and Road is advanced through high-level collaboration platforms, talent nurturing, environmental-related exhibitions and deepening of research and technical co-operation. He added that the Government has established the Hong Kong Green Technology Innovation Centre, which drives green transformation and innovation and implements green Belt and Road co-operation projects. The Centre plans to launch the Green Technology Bridgehead Programme in 2027 to help transfer green solutions to Belt and Road countries.

Also presented at the welcome ceremony were the third series of "Enchanting China", jointly produced by the Environment and Ecology Bureau (EEB) and the Environmental Protection Department (EPD) in collaboration with the Center for Environmental Education and Communications of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, as well as highlights from the "Beautiful Hong Kong Series" produced by the EEB. The series covered four themes including "Beautiful Living", "Beautiful Ecology", "Beautiful Trails" and "Beautiful Climate" to showcase the achievements and distinctive features of environmental protection and ecological conservation of the country and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region.

During the Government Session of the Eco Asia Conference on the same day, Deputy Director General of the Department of Energy Conservation and Comprehensive Utilization of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology of the People's Republic of China Ms Luo Xiaoli and the Director of the Climate Technology Centre and Network under the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), Ms Ariesta Ningrum, introduced the strategies of the Chinese Mainland in promoting green and low-carbon industrial development and those of the UNEP in utilising the accelerated transfer of climate technology to promote low-carbon and green transformation in the Global South. A panel chaired by the Senior Vice President (Research and Innovation) of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, Professor Christopher Chao, was held to discuss core issues of promoting regional green transformation and accelerating the transition towards sustainable development, jointly sharing policy experiences and exploring new directions for transnational co-operation. Various government officials and senior representatives of the Belt and Road countries were engaged to participate, including the Minister of State for Climate Change, Environment and Energy of the Maldives, Ms Aishath Inaya; Under Secretary of State at the Ministry of Environment of Cambodia Mr Oeurn Panchakneat; the Director General of the Foreign Environmental Cooperation Center of the Ministry of Ecology and Environment, Mr Zhang Zhifeng; the Rector of the Central Asian University of Environmental and Climate Change Studies of Uzbekistan, Professor Bakhtiyor Pulatov; and Researcher of the Research Center for Eco-Environmental Sciences at the Chinese Academy of Sciences Professor Yang Min.

Mr Huang and Mr Tse also witnessed Vice President of the Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences Ms Liu Chunyan exchanging a co-operation agreement with Dr Chui to advance the developments of the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, the "Beautiful China Pilot Zone" and the co-operation of the green Belt and Road.

The Expo was co-organised by the Hong Kong Trade Development Council and Messe Frankfurt (HK) Ltd, with the EEB as co-organiser. The EEB has set up four exhibition zones at the Expo, themed "Green Energy and Buildings", "Green Transport", "Waste Reduction and Recycling" and "Better Environment". This year, including the EEB and the EPD, a total of 11 government bureaus and departments exhibited, presenting environmental measures, technologies and engineering projects that advance green transformation and help achieve carbon-neutrality.

The EPD established a comprehensive experience zone for green technology at the Expo showcasing sustainable living concepts and the ways to attain comprehensive win-win opportunities and advance development momentum to the public under the themes of "Green Flat", "Green Cooperation" and "Green Innovation", leading the environmental industry towards a higher quality and more sustainable future. The zone also provided a "Green Match" space to facilitate trade and business co-operation and exchanges, and to jointly build high-quality green development and technology.

To encourage citizens to actively participate in various environmental activities to experience and practise a low-carbon green lifestyle first-hand, the last day of the Expo (October 29) will be the public day. Members of the public can visit for free. For details, please visit the Expo's dedicated website: www.hktdc.com/event/ecoexpoasia/en.

Global University Leaders Summit 2026: Fostering Collaboration and Innovation in Higher Education

HK