From April 13 to 16, Hainan University hosted the 2025 Summit of the League of Tropical Universities (LTU) in Haikou, attracting 49 member institutions from 26 countries and regions, alongside delegates from 107 government agencies, international organizations, universities, and research institutions across the tropics, to chart a new blueprint for sustainable development in the tropics.
Tropical Mission: To Transform Geographic Resources into Growth Drivers
The 2022 State of the Tropics Report, published on the UN’s official website, indicates that the tropics encompass 109 countries and regions, covering 39.8% of the Earth’s landmass and supporting 3.37 billion people. The tropics boast the majority of the world’s linguistic and cultural diversity while contributing 54% of global renewable water resources and 80% of biodiversity. However, this vibrant region faces pressing challenges, including food insecurity, the spread of diseases, ecological fragility, and difficulties in cultural preservation.
Luo Qingming, President of Hainan University (HNU) and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, emphasized that China, as a country with tropical territories and comparative advantages in education, science and technology, should take a leading role in advancing high-quality development in the regions by transforming the tropical resources into growth drivers.
How can the transformation be achieved, and challenges resolved, through educational cooperation?
According to Mr. Shahbaz Khan, Director of the UNESCO Office in China, the establishment of LTU provides a timely response to the pressing challenges of our era. “LTU plays a vital role in addressing global challenges such as climate change, biodiversity conservation, and disease spread. LTU members should pull together to drive digital transformation in education, building a digital ecosystem tailored for tropical education, accelerating innovation in education, science and technology, reinforcing digital ethics and sustainable practices, and facilitating the sharing of high-quality educational resources.”
Serving the needs of the Global South’s collective self-reliance, Hainan University, in November 2023, launched the LTU with seven leading universities and research institutions in the tropics, including the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Cairo University in Egypt, and Universiti Malaya in Malaysia, to boost the transformation of resources into economic drivers and consolidate educational exchanges and cooperation.
“It is the world’s first multilateral platform for educational exchanges and cooperation dedicated to the tropical region, which not only offers tropical solutions for global educational collaboration but also injects tropical impetus to ecological equilibrium and socio-economic development worldwide,” remarked Mr. Liu Jin, Deputy Inspector of China’s Ministry of Education.
As a multilateral platform for higher education collaboration, LTU consists of 101 universities and research institutions across 41 countries and regions, forging a transnational network of academic cooperation.
Emmanuel Kanchebe Derbile, Vice Chancellor of Simon Diedong Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies in Ghana, remarked that “LTU provides us a platform to address challenges together. And with this platform, we can seek solutions that integrate global vision with local perspectives through coordinated research, policy making, and initiatives.”
Tropical Solution: To Drive Sustainable Development through Global Collaboration
Over the past one and a half years, LTU members have achieved remarkable progress in academic exchanges and scientific research cooperation, with the breadth and depth continuously expanding.
“Since the inception of LTU, its members have pioneered a digital education model under a shared mission and made significant contributions to the sustainable development of the global digital economy by conducting in-depth collaboration across knowledge sharing, cultural exchanges, crisis response support, and other critical domains,” said Paul Mapfumo, Vice Chancellor of the University of Zimbabwe.
The opening ceremony of the 2025 Summit witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Cooperation between Mihoko Kumamoto, Director of the Division for Prosperity at the United Nations Institute for Training and Research (UNITAR), and Luo Qingming, President of Hainan University. When asked about the rationale behind the cooperation, Ms. Kumamoto explained that LTU, co-founded by Hainan University, brings together academia, governments, businesses, and civil society stakeholders to create sustainable entrepreneurial opportunities for tropical regions. Through trilateral collaboration between LTU, HNU and UNITAR, we aim to forge a more inclusive, innovative, and sustainable future that better nurtures youth leadership, advances sustainable development, and fosters international exchange and cooperation across tropical regions.
The Memorandum signing represents just one facet of LTU’s achievements. To systematically reflect on past accomplishments and envision the future, the opening ceremony also unveiled the following outcomes:
1. The LTU White Paper which includes the LTU charter, milestone events, and an analytical report on cooperation among member institutions, offering insights for future cooperation.
2. A Collection of LTU Knowledge Transfer Projects, highlighting LTU’s scientific innovation and commercialization potential, injecting fresh momentum into the socio-economic development of tropical regions.
3. The Academy of Chinese Wisdom and Cultural Mirrors alongside the inaugural bilingual edition of The Complete Poems of Bai Juyi, enriching LTU’s cultural essence and fostering cross-cultural exchanges between China and the world.
4. Initiatives such as LTU Scholarship for International Students and Visiting Scholars, as well as the International Summer School program, creating expanded opportunities for young scholars, and amplifying the impact of talent cultivation.
Dr. Constance Van Horne, Director of International Affairs and Executive Development at Abu Dhabi School of Management in UAE, expressed strong anticipation for collaboration with Hainan: “Abu Dhabi is planning a series of strategic investments in key sectors such as agriculture, hospitality, and tourism to deepen cooperation with Hainan. We see a great potential in Hainan and welcome Hainan enterprises to explore opportunities in the UAE market.”
The 2025 Summit also features four parallel sessions, “High-Efficiency Tropical Agriculture and Rural Development”, “One Health and Tropical Diseases Prevention & Control”, “Mutual Learning among Civilizations and Digital Humanities” and “Blue Carbon Technology and Green Development”, pooling global wisdom to advance high-quality development. Mir Imamuzzaman Hasib, a HNU Master’s student in Political Science (International Relations) from Bangladesh, said: “Participating in such an event with distinguished scholars and experts from tropical universities, not only broadens my academic horizons but also deepens my understanding of future trajectories in my field.”
Tropical Philosophy: To Build a Melting Pot for Diverse Cultures
On the evening of April 13, the Gala of the 2025 Summit unfolded with piano melodies intertwined with ethnic dances and traditional bamboo and wood instruments harmonized with contemporary arrangements, weaving a tapestry of multicultural dialogue. Chinese and international students from Hainan University, adorned in traditional ethnic attire, showcased the unique charm of Hainan's culture and the profound camaraderie among LTU members.
“Should old acquaintance be forgot, auld lang syne...” As the Sound of the Tropics resonated through the auditorium, the audience held their breath in awe. This rearranged melody of classic songs from tropical regions touched every heart on site through its universal appeal.
“This is not only a feast for the eyes and soul, but a profound revelation of art’s boundless charm,” said Ms. Anindrya Nastiti, Head of International Affairs Office at Institut of Teknologi Bandung, Indonesia. Deeply moved by the performers’ artistry and authenticity, she emphasized that such cross-cultural resonance exactly epitomizes the essence of civilizations in tropical regions.
Dato Ahmad Parveez, Director General of Malaysian Palm Oil Board, marveled at the gala: “Sound of the Tropics shows the multicultural integration and resonance through a mix of iconic songs in the tropics. The performances featuring dynamic rhythms and emotional intensity are very impressive because they not only present the uniqueness of tropical culture and customs but also manifest inclusiveness and openness.”
From April 13 to 18, a total of 31 young leaders from 17 tropical countries gathered in Hainan for the Youth Leadership Camp for Tropical Universities. Throughout the week, they attended the “Belt and Road” Youth Development Forum and visited local cities like Haikou, Wenchang, Qionghai, Wanning, Lingshui and Sanya, gaining firsthand experience of the Hainan Free Trade Port.
BUI HOAI THU, an international student from Vietnam, said the Camp gave her a deep impression of Hainan’s openness and dynamism. “I’ve made many Chinese friends here, and I’m proud to contribute to Vietnam–China friendship through youth engagement,” she added.
Notably, HNU student volunteers wearing LTU polo shirts also contributed to the success of the Summit. They acted as ambassadors of cultural exchange, with their warm smiles and meticulous services, adding a heartfelt, human touch to this grand multicultural gathering.
“During the 2025 Summit, the representatives I assisted praised me as a smart, energetic, joyful girl. They invited me to visit their countries someday,” said Han Zehui, a HNU undergraduate majoring in International Communication, who served as a liaison for foreign representatives. Reflecting on her volunteer experience, she emphasized: “Not only did I sharpen my cross-cultural communication skills, but I also made friends with some teachers and peers and had precious memories with guests from different countries.”
Professor Mohamed Ibrahim bin Abdul Mutalib, Vice Chancellor of Universiti Teknologi Petronas in Malaysia, commended the event: “I would like to congratulate Hainan University on the success of the LTU 2025 Summit for the impeccable organization, well-structured agenda and excellent participation rate. The philosophy of humanistic symbiosis it upholds is the precise embodiment of tropical solidarity.”
To ensure the success of the Summit, Hainan University established a dedicated task force to coordinate efforts across departments, creating an end-to-end service matrix encompassing strategic planning, implementation, and resource allocation. From one-stop services for guest reception to the seamless integration of tropical themes into the agenda, the Summit embodied the philosophy of inclusiveness and openness. Additionally, multilingual services and interactive sessions were specially designed to allow global participants to experience the diversity and collaborative spirit of tropical civilizations.
Translated by Yang Qiu
Proofread by Sun Hao, Yang Jie
