NUS President attends Bo'ao Forum

Prof Tan was in Hainan, China for the 2nd Asian Universities Alliance Summit and NUS' debut participation in the prestigious Bo’ao Forum for Asia 2018

NUS President Professor Tan Eng Chye was in Hainan, China from 8 to 11 April for the University’s debut participation in the prestigious Bo’ao Forum for Asia (BFA) Annual Conference 2018. 

The Forum aims to foster dialogue and engagement between international government officials, business leaders and academia on global and regional issues ranging from entrepreneurship and education to transportation, communications and the environment. This year’s theme was “An open and innovative Asia for a world of greater prosperity”.

Prof Tan, who was in Sanya for the 2nd Asian Universities Alliance (AUA) Summit prior to the BFA, engaged in a conversation on “The Rise of Asian Universities” during a roundtable at the conference, speaking on the role of Singapore, and NUS, in a changing and globalised world and sharing examples of pioneering initiatives by the University.

Said Prof Tan, “The Asian Universities Alliance is a key network for NUS. Our ability to collaborate in the face of rising international competition strengthens the value that this region brings to the world of higher education. I very much enjoyed catching up with my counterparts in Sanya and am grateful to the AUA for an excellent summit.

“It is a first for NUS to be at the Bo’ao Forum for Asia. We are deeply honoured, and very appreciative of the opportunity to engage with the top leaders of government, business and academia at this prestigious forum.”

Other delegates from Singapore at this year’s BFA included Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Madam Ho Ching; Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan; Minister for National Development Lawrence Wong; Minister for Education (Higher Education and Skills) Ong Ye Kung; Senior Parliamentary Secretary for Education, and Social and Family Development Faishal Ibrahim; Former Deputy Prime Minister Wong Kan Seng; Professor Zheng Yongnian, Director of the East Asian Institute at NUS; and Mr Lim Ming Yan, President and CEO of CapitaLand. 

Prof Tan (2nd from left) with other prominent leaders at the Asian Universities Alliance Summit 2018