On the afternoon of March 28, the 2024 China‑US Science and Technology Innovation Cooperation Symposium convened at the Juying Conference Room, Zhongke Building in Beijing. More than 40 participants attended, including representatives from universities such as Central University of Finance and Economics, Beijing Foreign Studies University, Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing Technology and Business University and Beijing City University, as well as heads of social organisations including the Zhongguancun Listed Companies Association and high‑tech enterprises.

Co‑hosted by the Beijing Global Talent Exchange Promotion Association (a member organisation of the Beijing Association for Science and Technology holding Special Consultative Status with the UN Economic and Social Council) and the Office for Global Education and Training (GET) of the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, the symposium was undertaken by Global Talent Network and Juyingchuang Group, with guidance and support from bodies including the Beijing International Science and Technology Exchange Center.

The event seeks to boost China‑US exchanges and cooperation in science‑technology, talent development and education, foster new quality productive forces, support the development of Beijing as a national hub for international science‑technology innovation and an international exchange centre, accelerate the building of a high‑calibre talent highland, and advance high‑quality development of the Chinese capital. As one of the events under the 2024 Capital Overseas‑Talent “Innovation Link” series, this symposium specially hosted a nine‑member delegation from GET of the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign.

The symposium consisted of three sessions: guest addresses, panel discussions and exchanges, and a strategic cooperation signing ceremony.

In the opening‑address segment, Ding Zhifeng, Executive President and Secretary‑General of the Beijing Global Talent Exchange Promotion Association, delivered welcome remarks. He briefly reviewed the association’s work and development over the past decade and voiced the vision of deepening future cooperation with overseas universities and talent‑science‑technology organisations such as the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign. Dr. Matthew Rosenstein, Director of GET at the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, noted in his speech that the event coincided with a visit to China by a US delegation of business leaders and strategic‑community academics. He expressed hope that the momentum for China‑US collaboration would spur stronger mutual exchanges and joint work.

During the panel‑discussion session, Grant, Associate Director of GET, gave a detailed introduction to the university’s long‑standing history and GET’s outstanding track‑record. Wang Nianhua, China Program Representative of the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, outlined training programmes run jointly between the university and China over the past three decades. Since 1993, when the State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs (SAFEA) signed a cooperation agreement with the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign, joint training courses have been delivered for executives from Chinese state‑owned enterprises, senior financial managers and government administrators, yielding remarkable outcomes. Moving forward, GET will continue to provide services for overseas training of personnel from Party and government organs and executives of enterprises and public institutions in China, US study tours for heads of social organisations and high‑tech enterprises, as well as study‑abroad programmes for young Chinese students.

Subsequently, university representatives from Beijing Institute of Technology, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing Technology and Business University and other institutions held in‑depth talks with the UIUC delegation on practical current‑day demands for international education. They reached letters‑of‑intent for student semester‑exchange and summer‑school programmes with the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign. They also hoped that GET and its counterparts would help facilitate exchanges for young US scholars and students at Chinese universities, so as to keep open two‑way communication channels for young students of both countries.

Guo Weiqiong, Secretary‑General of the Zhongguancun Listed Companies Association, stated in her speech that it is desirable to organise delegations of member‑enterprise executives for study tours to the University of Illinois Urbana‑Champaign. She proposed exploring cooperation on summer‑school programmes together with education planning for enterprise executives’ children, and participation in the university’s popular bridge programme tailored for Grade‑11 high‑school students. Other participants also expressed interest in organising outbound study programmes for Chinese students and hosting inbound exchange programmes for young US students, enabling them to experience traditional Chinese culture and deepen their understanding of China’s national conditions.

Finally, a strategic‑cooperation agreement signing ceremony was held for the joint establishment of the University of Illinois Beijing Cooperation Center by GET and the Beijing Global Talent Exchange Promotion Association. Positioned as a joint international platform for science‑technology innovation cooperation, the centre will prioritise exchanges and collaboration between China and the United States in education, science‑technology and talent development.