Organized by MoE and some universities, in Sanya on Nov. 23-24, the Sino-Foreign Cooperation in Running Schools and Development of High-Level Universities conference attracted about 300 participants from more than 10 countries. ICARE European dean, Prof Michel FARINE, was invited to deliver a speech during the opening session. Prof. FARINE stressed the importance of having a top class research as a necessary condition to develop world class universities in China. He also insisted on the fact that, contrarily to a few years ago and partly because of SHG ranking, foreign countries are also in the process to look for new models for their universities in the context of globalization. China will then have to develop his own model which could then be of influrnce on foreign countries. Later during the conference, Prof. FARINE made a presentation of ICARE institute as well as what can be learned in heading such an international institute in China.

Some special sessions were devoted to the following topics:

1. The network cooperation among the Communication Universities in the world.

2. The higher education area in Suzhou Industrial Park supports the development of Suzhou Industrial Park.

3. The important lesson learned from China 20+20 African Project is how to make the sustainable development.

4. Xiamen University is planning to build a Sino-Malaysia university in Malaysia.

5. The study of tuition charge.

Mrs LIU Yang, director of Education Center in ICARE, and CHENG Sha, assistante of the Chinese dean, attended the conference. Mrs CHENG made all translations from English to Chinese for Prof. FARINE two speeches.