USTB hosted BRIDGE Forum 2026 in Beijing from October 23 to 26, bringing together university leaders, international scholars and diplomatic representatives from more than 40 countries.

Xu Xiaoping, Secretary of USTB's Party Committee, emphasized the importance of international cooperation in higher education. Zhao Lingshan, Vice-President and Secretary-General of the Chinese International Education Foundation, highlighted USTB’s 12-year Confucius Institute partnership with De Montfort University and its achievements in digital Chinese-language education.

Overseas university representatives such as Simon Bradbury, Pro Vice-Chancellor of De Montfort University, and Mundia Muya, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Zambia, expressed interest in tangible cooperation in artificial intelligence, sustainable mining and youth talent development via various platforms including Confucius Institutes and joint laboratories.

Several international cooperation outcomes were announced at the opening ceremony. USTB signed cooperation agreements with two overseas universities and unveiled an international joint laboratory with the University of Johannesburg. Seven international scholars were appointed as USTB guest professors to strengthen the university’s international faculty network.

The forum also featured nine parallel sub-forums exploring topics across education, science-technology and culture, providing opportunities for academic exchange and future collaboration.

Building on the forum’s outcomes, the university will continue to strengthen academic ties with global partners and promote joint research and talent development under the Belt and Road Initiative.