Funded by Chinese Medicine Board (CMB) and hosted by the Department of Nursing, the 20th anniversary seminar of the Academic Summit on International Higher Education in Nursing and the Chinese Program for the Development of Higher Education in Nursing was held in Xi'an's Qujiang Hotel from October 21 to 23. Its theme was "endowment, cooperation and growth". Nearly 600 nursing experts and scholars from America, Great Britain, Thailand, Taiwan, Hong Kong, Macao and the mainland attended the meeting.

At the opening ceremony, the participants were welcomed by President Wang Shuguo, speaking on behalf of XJTU, and CMB Director Jeffry Williams on behalf of Chairman Lincoln Chen. The former president of Chiengmai University of Thailand Professor Wichit Srisuphan reviewed the successes of the Master's Program operated jointly by the cooperation between China and Thailand.

The three day summit summarized the achievements and successes of Program of Higher Nursing Education Development (POHNED) and also the problems and difficulties for nursing education in the world, especially in China.