Sponsored by Ministry of Education (MOE) of the People's Republic of China, and hosted by Sichuan University, China-US Forum on University Design was closed at Jiang'an Campus, Sichuan University on June 2. Presidents and management personnel of forty-three public universities from China and the US focus on the topic of "Public University and Local Economic and Social Development", carrying out an extensive, profound and fruitful exchange and research, and reach a common understanding that "higher education should Facilitate Local & Regional Economic and Social Development".

Exchanging their views on the role of public universities in the development of local and regional economy, conscientiously pondering over the status, mission, challenge and opportunity of public universities in the era of knowledge economy, deeply exploring the way the public university serving the societies, further looking forward to the prospect of public university serving the societies, presidents of Sino-American public universities have raised six topics for discussion during the two-day forum: Human Capital Building for Emerging Industries; The Role of University Achievements on Social Sciences in Local & Regional Economic Development; The Role of the University in Local & Regional Economic Development-Universities and Government; University High-Tech Parks in Remote Locations: Challenges and Opportunities; Use Inspired Research and Technology Transfer; and Entrepreneurial Collaboration: Fostering Innovation.

As a medium for promoting and boosting the academic exchange and cooperation between American and Chinese universities, the representatives suggest establishing a virtual research institute among the universities attended the session, which functions as "Toolkit" for universities of two countries to share. And the "Toolkit" should link the universities and the societies of the two countries. There are two things important in the "Toolkit', among which one is the ideal, that is, the way you deal with the problem; other is the method, namely, the way you are intended to do it. As a carrier, the virtual research institute provides various "tools" stored in the "Toolkit"-opinions, thoughts, knowledge and method to all the members. This is what the forum tries to focus on.

At the forum, Sino-American presidents and higher-rank officials have realized that China and the US are the influential worldwide educational big powers, and public universities play a significant role in both China and the United States. The forum will establish a regular, wide and multiple cooperation and exchange platform between American and Chinese public universities.

The achievements of this forum will help further enrich the ideal of running universities, giving full play to the function of public university serving the societies, constantly promoting the organic combination and harmonious development for public universities in the field of talent training, scientific research and social services, and makes the public universities really become powerful support and motive force for local & regional economy and social development.

In the future, similar regular forum will be held to establish a long-term and stable cooperation between Chinese and American universities, to consciously take the responsibility for serving the societies, to closely link the development of universities to the regional economic and social prospect as well as national and human destiny, and to make a greater contribution to social and economic progress.

Closing Session

Mr. Xie Heping,President, Host Sichuan University, Making Closing Remark

Chairman, Mr. Shijian, Vice President, Sichuan University

Executive Chairman Mr.Ronald Applbarm, President, Colorado State University-Pueblo

First Group Representative, Ms. Risa Palm, Executive Vice Chancellor and Provost, Louisiana State University

Second Group Representative, Mr. Michael Young, President, University of Utah

Third Group Representative, Mr. Duan Baoyan, President, Xi'an University of Electronic Science and Technology

Forth Group Representative, Mr. Kermit Hall, President, State University of New York , Albany

Fifth Group Representative, Mr.Ye Queyuan, Executive Vice-president, Shanghai Jiaotong University

Sixth Group Representative, Mr. Li Yongsheng, Executive Vice President, Shanghai Tongji University

Mr. Michael Crow, President, Co-host Arizona State University