The 6th Silk Road International Symposium for Distinguished Young Scholars was held on Sept 28 in Xi’an, Shaanxi province, with the aim of introducing more young scholars to the city in Northwest China.

Sponsored by Xi’an Jiaotong University, the symposium was held in the school’s 'innovation harbor', and attracted 284 distinguished young scholars from 26 countries and regions, including the US, the UK, Germany, Australia, Canada, Japan, Singapore and Israel, who all took part online.  

Wang Shuguo, president of Xi'an Jiaotong University, makes a speech at the symposium’s opening ceremony.  

Wang Shuguo, president of Xi'an Jiaotong University, analyzed the influence of the fourth industrial revolution on the university and gave an introduction to the Western China Scientific and Technological Innovation Harbor (IHarbor), which was designed and built by the university in Xixian New Area, a State-level development zone for economy and innovation promotion.

Wang said that the fourth industrial revolution is coming, and its speed and scope are incomparable to any previous technological revolution. Under the reverse flow of knowledge production model, new ideas and new technologies are produced outside the campus, and this requires universities to actively change and become more deeply integrated with society.

He pointed out that the IHarbor aims to explore a new kind of university against the background of the fourth industrial revolution. It is a global, high-end scientific research platform and talent cultivation highland. 29 research institutes and more than 300 scientific research platforms have all settled in. There is a deep integration of university and society, interdisciplinary integration, and integration of basic research and applied research.

“I hope that young talents can combine personal development with social progress, join the IHarbor, explore new university forms, lead the development of higher education, and contribute their wisdom to human civilization and social progress,” the university president said.

Liu Huimin, deputy director of the Department of Human Resources and Social Security of Shaanxi Province, said that Shaanxi adheres to a talent-led development strategy; always regards talents as its most valuable resource; respects, cherishes and cares for talents; and sincerely invites young talents to join Shaanxi province to plan and participate in the development of the province.

The symposium is a professional development exchange event for outstanding young scholars in the world, first launched by Xi'an Jiaotong University in 2015. In 2016, it was upgraded to a high-level talent forum regularly held by Shaanxi provincial Party committee and government.

To date, it has been successfully held for five consecutive sessions. More than 1,200 outstanding young scholars from more than 30 countries and regions have been selected and invited to attend the symposium. It has become a platform to help young scholars understand Xi'an Jiaotong University and Shaanxi Province, attract more young talents to work in Shaanxi Province, and promote the progress and development of higher education and scientific research in Western China.