Led by Chief Secretary Chan Kwok-ki, a delegation from the Working Group on Planning & Construction of the University Town (WG) under the Committee on Development of the Northern Metropolis today arrive at Ningbo, where they toured the Ningbo Higher Education Park and met local officials.

At the education park, the delegates were shown around various institutions and were briefed on their positioning, characteristics, and development strategies.

Constructed in 1999, the park is the first of its kind in the country. A number of higher education institutions are located there, sharing resources such as libraries and sports facilities.

In addition to Zhejiang Wanli University, NingboTech University, and the School of Software Technology, Zhejiang University, the delegates saw the University of Nottingham Ningbo China, which was jointly established by Zhejiang Wanli University and the University of Nottingham in the UK.

Afterwards, they held an exchange meeting with representatives from the Zhejiang Department of Education, Ningbo Municipal Government, Ningbo Municipal Education Bureau, and the heads of various higher education institutions in the park.

They also received a briefing on the development of the Ningbo Higher Education Park by member of the CPC Ningbo Municipal Committee Standing Committee and Vice Mayor of the Ningbo Municipal People’s Government Xu Yan, Deputy Director of Zhejiang Department of Education Shu Peidong, and other representatives.

Mr Chan mentioned that the Chief Executive announced, in the 2025 Policy Address, the establishment of a research task force under the WG to study development models for the Northern Metropolis University Town.

He urged the delegation to draw on the successful experience of the Ningbo Higher Education Park over the past two decades, and consider how different institutions can promote the integrated development of industry, academia and research. He added that he hoped visit will help to promote education exchanges and co-operation between the two places.

This evening, Mr Chan and the delegation arrived in Hangzhou, where they met member of the CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee Standing Committee and Zhejiang Executive Vice Governor Xu Wenguang, and other Zhejiang provincial officials. They exchanged views on deepening Zhejiang-Hong Kong co-operation, particularly in the education field.

Mr Chan remarked that in recent years Zhejiang has achieved remarkable results through implementing a strategy of modernising education and building strength in higher education.

He highlighted that Zhejiang and Hong Kong have signed multiple co-operation agreements, and expressed hope of replicating Zhejiang’s success in Hong Kong through developing the latter as an international hub for post-secondary education, thereby contributing towards establishing China as a leading country in education.