Source: Education Development and Alumni Affairs Office
Written by: Education Development and Alumni Affairs Office
Proofread by: Ian Heuer
Edited by: Wang Dongmei

On the morning of April 9, the 2016 SYSU Alumni Association Presidents Forum, with the theme of “nature · health · innovation and entrepreneurship”, was held in Haikou, Hainan Province. Prof. Luo Jun, President of Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) and President of SYSU Alumni Association, Prof. Li Ping, Deputy Secretary of SYSU Party Committee and Executive Vice President of SYSU Alumni Association, Mr. Chen Shaobin, Assistant President of SYSU and Executive Director of SYSU Alumni Association, as well as presidents of SYSU alumni associations around the world, representatives from SYSU Entrepreneurs Alumni Association, and some SYSU alumni in Hainan, attended the forum.

In his keynote speech at the forum, President Luo Jun introduced SYSU’s recent achievements, strategic planning, and responsibilities. With solid disciplinary foundations and strengths in medical sciences, and located in the Pearl River Delta region, SYSU has immense room for future development. President Luo stated that SYSU’s goal is to double the university’s key indexes in a short period, enhance the development of world-class universities and disciplines, and shorten the gap between SYSU and first-tier universities nationwide. In 2015, SYSU launched comprehensive reforms, including adjusting its disciplinary structure, establishing Shenzhen Campus, introducing and nurturing high level talents, and improving faculty members’ welfare. President Luo also remarked that members of the SYSU community shall turn their eyes to the development of mankind, China and SYSU in one hundred years when making our development plans.

President Luo Jun’s speech was warmly received by the alumni, who were proud of their alma mater’s achievements and excited about its future development planning. The presidents of SYSU alumni associations and entrepreneur alumni expressed their hope to unite alumni at home and abroad to support the alma mater’s development.

During the forum, President Luo Jun respectively met with Mr. Wang Lu and Mr. Lu Junhua, Vice Governors of Hainan Province, discussing cooperation in health care, science and technology, and cultural fields.
On the afternoon of April 9, the forum invited several distinguished alumni to share their stories with representatives of young entrepreneurs. In addition, on the afternoon of April 7, the SYSU Alumni Association also held a round table discussion for entrepreneur alumni on the theme of “cooperation and development”.