The Sino-French University Presidents Forum takes place at Tongji University on May 19. [Photo/Tongji University]

The Sino-French University Presidents Forum at Tongji University on May 19 brought together 80 presidents and representatives from 10 French universities and 15 Chinese universities to explore the theme of "Sustainable Development and International Engineering Education".

The forum focused on cultivating internationally-minded engineers for sustainable development, with discussions on new models for educational cooperation. Officials highlighted the importance of educational cooperation in addressing global challenges.

Keynote speakers shared their insights into the strengthening of engineer training through international partnerships. Zheng Qinghua, president of Tongji University, proposed a "Sino-French Alliance for Excellent Engineering Education". The forum emphasized the shared mission of China and France to nurture globally competent engineers.

The event is part of a series of activities celebrating the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic relations at Tongji University. Tongji University has been a pioneer in Sino-French collaborations for over 30 years. It has established cooperative relationships with over 60 French universities.

On the same day, an exhibition commemorating Tongji University's 30 years of cooperation with France was unveiled, showcasing achievements in architecture, urban-rural heritage preservation, and sustainable development.