On the morning of June 19, the 2023 "Belt and Road" Nursing Deans Forum, organized by Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) School of Nursing, was successfully held. The forum aimed to facilitate academic exchanges and international cooperation among top nursing institutions in "Belt and Road" countries and regions by bringing together distinguished nursing deans to share the current state, past experiences and future challenges of nursing education. Five nursing deans from Singapore, Thailand, Korea, Hong Kong, and Beijing respectively were invited to give keynote speeches. The Forum was moderated by ZHU Bingqian, Associate Dean of SJTU School of Nursing. It was live-streamed, with nearly 2,000 people attending online.

Prof. ZHENG Junke, Vice Chancellor of SJTU School of Medicine, gave the opening speech. He warmly welcomed the experts and scholars attending the event. He pointed out that 2023 marked the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). Over the past decade, the BRI has become a well-recognized program for international collaboration. As the World Health Organization (WHO) highlighted, the world has reached a consensus on the importance of Nursing, and nurses make tremendous contributions to human health. Meanwhile, the global nursing community faces common challenges ahead. The Forum is believed to provide opportunities to share insights on the current state, past experiences, and future challenges in the development of nursing for ultimately shaping the future of the profession.

During the main session, five nursing deans gave keynote speeches on "Innovative Strategies for High-quality Development of the Nursing Discipline". Prof. CHAN Engle Angela, Interim Head of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University School of Nursing, underscored the importance of fostering faculty growth and student learning through diverse methods and approaches to advance the discipline. From a leadership perspective, Prof. Chan shared insightful views on talent acquisition and cultivation, including both faculty and student recruitment. Prof. OH Eui Geum, Dean of Yonsei University College of Nursing in Korea, delivered a comprehensive presentation on the institution's mission and vision, faculty size, key research areas, and strategic development planning. In addition, Prof. OH discussed methods for fostering collaborative development between the College and its affiliated hospitals. Prof. SHANG Shaomei, Dean of Peking University School of Nursing, delivered a comprehensive analysis on nurturing innovative nursing talents in the context of medical sciences in the new era. Prof. SHANG explored the new requirements and training strategies for nursing talents under the Healthy China initiative. The presentation also spotlighted the School's efforts and achievements in interdisciplinary integration. Dr. KAEWTHUMMANUKUL Thanee, Dean of Chiang Mai University Faculty of Nursing, Thailand, gave a presentation on improving the discipline's reputation and rankings. Dr. KAEWTHUMMANUKUL shared the institution's strategic plan for 2023-2027 and reviewed the achievements in improving the quality of Nursing education. Concluding the keynote session, Dr. LIAW Sok Ying, Director of National University of Singapore Alice Lee Centre for Nursing Studies, outlined the key milestones of the institution. Dr. LIAW introduced the doctoral, master's, and undergraduate programs, as well as the resources available to students and faculty. She also highlighted several research centers and their respective heads and teams.

The Deans Forum provided a unique opportunity for the local Nursing community to exchange insights with renowned nursing deans from BRI countries and regions. The questions from the audience reflected their passion for the Nursing field and their sincere hopes for the advancement of Nursing education. The Forum also shed light on discipline development and future planning for the SJTU School of Nursing. Moving forward, the School will actively embrace the "One Health" concept, encourage innovation, and drive development through reform. Through interdisciplinary integration, the School aims to cultivate high-level, professional, and versatile nursing talents capable of meeting the health management needs of the entire population across the life course.

Dr. FANG Qiong, Associate Dean of SJTU School of Nursing, delivered the closing remarks. In closing, Associate Dean FANG Qiong summarized the Forum and thanked the participating deans for their valuable contributions. The three-hour event offered a wealth of insights and left participants inspired for further engagement. The Forum served as both an academic and cultural exchange, addressing both common challenges and region-specific issues. The talks and discussions provided essential perspectives for the development of the SJTU School of Nursing. Lastly, on behalf of the School, she warmly invited experts and scholars to visit Shanghai and join hands with the School to facilitate deeper collaboration in talent cultivation, teaching, and research.