CityUHK, SYSU, and CityU Macau Launch Greater Bay Area University Alliance for Regional and Country Studies
09 Oct 2025 (Thu)
On September 5, 2025, the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macau University Alliance for Regional and Country Studies was officially launched at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies (GDUFS). Spearheaded by City University of Hong Kong (CityUHK), together with Sun Yat-sen University (SYSU) and City University of Macau (CityU Macau), the Alliance marks a significant step forward in strengthening academic cooperation across the Greater Bay Area (GBA).CityUHK’s Leadership
Prof. May Bo CHING, Associate Dean of CLASS at CityUHK, delivered remarks highlighting CityU’s pride in serving as a founding member and active driver of the initiative. She emphasized that the Alliance will open new avenues for collaboration, talent development, and innovation in regional and country studies.
Shared Vision
The signing ceremony was completed by Prof. June Wang (CityUHK), Prof. Chenguang Chang (SYSU), and Prof. Kuai Peng Ip (CityU Macau). Together, the universities pledged to foster a “One-Hour Academic Circle” to enhance scholarly exchange and cooperation across the GBA.
It is worth noting that the Alliance was initially conceived and initiated by Prof. Jie Chen, Director of Area and Regional Studies at SYSU, whose vision and leadership provided a strong foundation for this collaborative effort.
Expert Support and Future Directions
The launch event also brought together leading scholars and advisors, including Prof. Jiemian Yang (Chairman of the Advisory Committee, Shanghai Institutes for International Studies), Prof. Feng Jiang (President, Shanghai Society for Regional and Country Studies; Chairman, Shanghai Academy of Global Governance and Area Studies, Shanghai International Studies University), Prof. Lin Luo (Director, Secretariat for Country and Regional Studies, Ministry of Education; Chairman of the Advisory Committee, University Alliance for Regional and Country Studies), Prof. Kun Zhai (School of International Relations, Peking University; Vice President, Institute of Area Studies, Peking University), and Prof. Cheng Yang (Executive Dean, Shanghai Academy of Global Governance and Area Studies; Vice President and Secretary-General, Shanghai Society for Regional and Country Studies), whose presence added momentum to the Alliance’s mission. Discussions extended beyond the GBA, exploring possibilities for a future “Bay-to-Bay Alliance” linking with Shanghai and other regions.
With CityUHK at the forefront, and backed by the shared commitment of partner universities and distinguished scholars, the Greater Bay Area University Alliance sets out to build a dynamic academic community, deepen regional cooperation, and expand international collaboration.
