From January 15 to 18, 2025, the "World Mayors Dialogue · Nanning" event, themed "Building a China-ASEAN Community of Friendship: Urban Openness and Cooperation," was held in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. Mayors, mayoral representatives, and experts from China, Cambodia, Indonesia, Laos, Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Vietnam gathered to explore new models, content, and pathways for friendly exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and foreign cities, advancing the construction of a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. Seizing this opportunity, Nanning University invited representatives from Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), a member of the Neighbor Partners Alliance Among UNN-ASEAN Universities, to participate in related activities.
Established in 2002, UTAR is Malaysia's first university founded by the Chinese community, offering a comprehensive range of disciplines and programs. Since Nanning University and UTAR signed a memorandum of understanding in 2024, the two institutions have deepened cooperation in talent cultivation, faculty-student exchanges, and other areas, forging a strong bond of friendship. In October of the same year, Nanning University selected 13 outstanding undergraduate students for a three-month exchange program at UTAR, broadening their international horizons and fostering academic and cultural collaboration.
On January 16, during the main dialogue session of the "World Mayors Dialogue · Nanning," Li Dongxue, President of Nanning University, and Choong Chee Keong, Vice President of UTAR, jointly signed the "Memorandum Of Agreement Collaboration In Postgraduate Academic Development Programme" on behalf of their institutions. This agreement aims to strengthen collaboration with ASEAN countries, leveraging Nanning's positioning as a gateway to the region, to provide Nanning University graduates with broader pathways for further education and richer academic resources. Both sides will jointly advance educational internationalization and promote deep integration of academic exchanges and talent cultivation.
During the event, international guests also participated in a parallel dialogue on "Cultural and Tourism Cooperation for Mutual Prosperity of Cities," engaging in in-depth discussions on cultural and tourism partnerships. They visited the China-ASEAN New Smart City Collaborative Innovation Center, the Guyue Ethnic Cultural and Art Village in Nanyang Town, Qingxiu District, and the historical and cultural district of Yongzhou Ancient City · Sanjie Liangxiang, experiencing Nanning's vibrant ethnic culture, Spring Festival traditions, and achievements in rural revitalization. These activities not only showcased Nanning's unique charm as an ASEAN-oriented open city but also inspired future collaboration opportunities.
The successful hosting of the "World Mayors Dialogue · Nanning" event not only provided a critical platform for urban cooperation between China and ASEAN nations but also offered valuable opportunities for Nanning University and UTAR. Through this exchange, the two institutions deepened mutual understanding and trust, paving the way for more comprehensive and in-depth cooperation across various fields, and jointly nurturing the fruits of friendship and collaboration.
