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Cornell leaders traveled across China and Asia in early November to connect with alumni, deepen partnerships, celebrate academic milestones, and engage in discussions on a wide range of global challenges. The multi-stop trip included the sixth annual Cornell-China Forum in Shanghai.

Cornell-China Forum

The forum, a signature event of the Cornell China Center, brought together Cornellians, Chinese scholars, and industry experts to explore the changing landscape of global higher education, sustainable development, aging societies, and the role of artificial intelligence in education. Panels encouraged cross-disciplinary collaboration and highlighted innovative approaches to these complex issues.

Cornell's delegation included President Michael Kotlikoff, Vice Provost for International Affairs Wendy Wolford, and deans from the College of Arts and Sciences (A&S), College of Veterinary Medicine (CVM), College of Agriculture and Life Sciences (CALS), and the Dyson School of Applied Economics and Management.

In the opening session, President Kotlikoff gave the keynote address and participated in a panel on the future of higher education. A&S Dean Peter Loewen spoke on "Past and Future of China and Asia-Pacific Studies at Cornell," and Dyson's dean, Jinhua Zhao, focused on “Business Education for a Better World.” CALS associate dean, Xingen Lei, presented on Land-Grant Research and Innovation: Cornell CALS' Blueprint for Global Sustainability and CVM Dean Lorin Warnick spoke on a "One Health Approach to Biomedical Discoveries" during the afternoon session.

"The Cornell-China Forum is about building bridges—between disciplines, between institutions, and across borders," said Wendy Wolford. “Our conversations in Shanghai reflect Cornell's belief that global challenges require global collaboration.”

Connection and Celebration

The forum was one highlight of a packed itinerary with events across multiple cities. While some members of the delegation visited Peking University and celebrated the 20th anniversary of the China and Asia-Pacific Studies (CAPS) program at the Cornell China Center in Beijing, others traveled to Guangzhou to launch the Cornell-China Sustainability Project, which will initially focus on the sustainable intensification of rice cultivation. Cornell faculty also met with collaborators at the Hong Kong University of Science and Technology to deepen conversations around healthy aging. University leaders connected with alumni in Beijing, Shanghai, Singapore, and Hong Kong.

Across campuses and cities, Cornell leaders reinforced the university's commitment to its global mission and its longstanding ties across Asia, building on more than a century of engagement through student exchange programs, research collaborations, and events like the Cornell-China Forum.