The YNU delegation is pictured at the first MIT China Summit, in Beijing, on Nov 13. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]

A Yunnan University (YNU) delegation led by Zhang Li, the university’s vice-president, attended the first MIT China Summit held by Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT), in Beijing, on Nov 13.

The MIT China Summit brought together leaders in industry, government and academia to explore some of the most exciting topics at the frontiers of science and technology, and examined the role of research and education in shaping tomorrow’s world. 

The summit also highlighted the importance of Sino-American collaboration in an effort to solve the complex challenges the world faces today. 

Bai Chunli, dean of the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and L. Rafael Reif, president of MIT, jointly presided over the event. Richard K. Lester, deputy academic dean of MIT, delivered closing remarks. 

Attending the summit were Pan Jianwei, professor at the University of Science and Technology of China; Yang Lan, co-founder and chairperson of Sun Media Group and Sun Future Art Education Foundation; Liu Qingfeng, founder of Iflytek Co; Zhang Yaqin, president of Baidu; Yang Bin, academic dean of Tsinghua University, as well as other prominent people from the academic and business worlds.

The School of Business and Tourism Management at YNU, as one of MIT Sloan’s global partners, has maintained an 18-year partnership with MIT through the International Faculty Fellows Conference (IFF), China-lab and the 10,000 Women Program. 

On Nov 12, the YNU delegation took part in the IFF, which was held jointly by MIT Sloan and Tsinghua University’s School of Economic Management. 

YNU representatives held discussions with delegations from Tsinghua University, Fudan University and Sun Yat-Sen University on management education, globalization and the Belt and Road Initiative, artificial intelligence and manufacturing, and entrepreneurship and innovation.

Robert Merton, a Nobel Prize winner in 1997, attended the conference and delivered a speech, in which he discussed some of his recent research work. 

The YNU delegation poses for a photograph at the International Faculty Fellows (IFF) Conference with other attendees, in Beijing, on Nov 12. [Photo/ynu.edu.cn]