On the morning of April 14, the League of Tropical Universities (LTU) 2025 Summit opens at Hainan University (HNU). Under the theme “Extensive Consultation, Joint Contribution, and Shared Benefits: Towards a Shared Future of Higher Education for the Tropical Regions”, the Summit explores solutions to development challenges in tropical regions by focusing on topics such as international digital education, high-efficiency tropical agriculture, One Health, cultural exchanges, and green development, seeking to help tropical countries translate their unique and abundant resources into momentum for sustainable development.
The opening ceremony features speeches delivered both online and offline by distinguished guests, including Dileita Mohamed Dileita (President of the National Assembly of Djibouti), Hang Chuon Naron (Deputy Prime Minister of Cambodia and Minister of Education, Youth, and Sports), Emmanuel née Adouki Delfine Edith (Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Technological Innovation of the Republic of the Congo), Erik Solheim (Former UN Under-Secretary-General and Executive Director of the UN Environment Program), Shi Zhongjun, (Secretary-General of the ASEAN-China Centre), Mihoko Kumamoto (Director of the Prosperity Division at the UN Institute for Training and Research, UNITAR), Noor Azuan Abu Osman (Vice-Chancellor of the University of Malaya), Liu Jin (Deputy Inspector-General of the Ministry of Education of China), Xie Jing (Vice Governor of the People’s Government of Hainan Province), Luo Qingming (Member of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, Vice Chairman of the CPPCC Hainan Provincial Committee, and HNU President).
Flagship Document Debuted! The LTU White Paper is released. The LTU has emerged as a multilateral platform for higher education collaboration, bringing together 101 universities and research institutions from 41 countries and regions, forming a cross-border network of cooperation and exchanges. Over the 18 months since its inception, member institutions have made remarkable advances in academic exchanges, scientific research, and other fields, continuously expanding the breadth and depth of collaboration. To systematically summarize achievements and chart the future, the LTU Secretariat has spearheaded the compilation of the LTU White Paper which includes the LTU charter, major events, and an analytical report on cooperation among member institutions, showcasing innovative practices in educational collaboration and technology sharing through data and case studies. The White Paper presents a “solution from tropical regions” for global education governance.
Sci-Tech Achievements to Be Shared! The Collection of LTU Knowledge Transfer Projects is unveiled. To jointly build the LTU and share its benefits, the LTU Secretariat has compiled a collection of knowledge transfer projects which involves over 120 sci-tech innovations from member institutions across fields such as tropical agriculture, ecological environment, and information technology. Its official release will significantly advance the application and global promotion of these technological breakthroughs, helping address real-world challenges in tropical regions.
A New Chapter of Cultural Exchanges Opened! The Academy of Chinese Wisdom and Cultural Mirrors is inaugurated. The opening ceremony features the launch of the Academy of Chinese Wisdom and Cultural Mirrors (ACWCM) and the debut of A Complete Edition of Juyi Bai’s Poems in Chinese and English. Established through cooperation between HNU, the Academy of Contemporary China and World Studies, and Yuntu Culture Group, the ACWCM invites all LTU member universities to participate in the translation and sharing the wisdom of diverse civilizations, embodying the spirit of “each having its own beauty, and sharing all beauties in common”. Notably, its first release marks the first-ever complete English rendition of all 3,062 poems by Bai Juyi, the preeminent poet from Tang Dynasty.
Exclusive Benefits Announced! A host of scholarships and cultural exchange programs are initiated. HNU is to provide every LTU member participating in the Summit on-site with two scholarships for master’s/doctoral students or visiting scholars. Additionally, HNU will continue to customize international summer programs and Sino-foreign youth scholar cultural exchange activities in Hainan, encouraging member institutions to nominate outstanding young participants.
Cooperation Deepened! Multiple parties sign strategic agreements. Mihoko Kumamoto and Luo Qingming, representing UNITAR and the LTU Secretariat respectively, have signed a Cooperation MOU. Besides, other officials have signed cooperation agreements on behalf of their institutions, including Datuk Mohamed Ibrahim Abdul Mutalib (Vice Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS, Malaysia), Paul Mavima (Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe), Charin Techapanukul (Vice President of Chiang Mai University, Thailand), Yip Min Sheng (Assistant Vice President of Singapore University of Social Sciences) and Hwei Hwee The ( Director of the Borneo Marine Research Institute, Universiti Malaysia Sabah).
On the sidelines of the Summit, HNU has tailor-made two flagship programs for LTU members: “Chasing Dreams in the Free Trade Port, Fulfilling the Chinese Passion – Hainan University 2025 Chinese Bridge Summer Camp” and “LTU Young Leaders Flagship Research Program”. A total of 55 young scholars from 17 countries have gathered in “Coconut City” (Haikou) to experience firsthand the development of the Hainan Free Trade Port and discuss the future of cooperation among tropical regions.
To align with the historical trend of Global South solidarity and to consolidate global educational efforts in transforming tropical regions’ resources into developmental momentum, HNU joined forces with seven leading institutions from tropical regions worldwide, including the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Cairo University (Egypt), University of Malaya (Malaysia), Universiti Teknologi PETRONAS (Malaysia), University of São Paulo (Brazil), Bandung Institute of Technology (Indonesia), and Chulalongkorn University (Thailand), to establish the LTU in November 2023. As the first multilateral platform for higher education and scientific research collaboration in tropical regions, the LTU is committed to nurturing urgently needed professionals with global competence and innovative thinking, creating exemplary models for global education and research cooperation, promoting civilizational dialogue and cultural exchanges, advancing the integrated development of education, technology, and talent in tropical regions. Currently, the LTU has brought together 101 member institutions from 41 countries and regions, forming a cross-border, multicultural collaborative network.
The opening ceremony is attended by representatives from 107 government agencies, international organizations, universities and research institutions worldwide that support educational development in tropical regions, including 49 LTU members from 26 countries and regions.
