On the afternoon of July 14, 2025, the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences of the Hong Kong Polytechnic University (PolyU), as the chairing institution of the Sub-Alliance for Medical-Engineering Collaborative Innovation under the University Alliance of the Silk Road, held an online meeting with the First Affiliated Hospital (FAH) of Xi’an Jiaotong University (XJTU) to discuss future directions and practical initiatives for cooperation under the framework of the Sub-Alliance. Participants included Professor Marco Pang, Head of the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences at the PolyU, Associate Head Professor Amy Fu, and their team; Lei Yanjun, Deputy Director of XJTU, She Junjun, Vice President of FAH, as well as key representatives from the International Exchange and Cooperation Center, Human Resources Department, Academic Affairs Department, Nursing Department, and the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine. The meeting was chaired by Yao Hongmei, Deputy Director of the International Exchange and Cooperation Center.

The meeting focused on three key areas: international academic conferences, faculty exchanges and visits, and joint student training. Through in-depth discussions, both sides reached a preliminary consensus to advance cooperation in the following areas: jointly organizing high-level international academic conferences; promoting cutting-edge research and development in rehabilitation science through interdisciplinary integration of medicine, engineering, and science; launching short-term faculty exchange programs and summer exchange and study tours for students; and carrying out joint scientific research and co-establishing collaborative laboratories. Both parties agreed to further refine the areas of cooperation and specific measures to promote collaboration among member institutions under the framework of the Sub-Alliance.

Lei Yanjun made her concluding remarks that the XJTU and the PolyU have long been close partners within the University Alliance of the Silk Road. To date, the two institutions have achieved tangible results in areas such as joint educational programs and the establishment of collaborative laboratories. As one of the founding members of the Alliance, the university will continue to provide coordination and services within the Sub-Alliance framework, and offer strong support for the cooperation between the FAH and PolyU’s Department of Rehabilitation Sciences.

Through this exchange and discussion, both parties have further clarified how to advance pragmatic cooperation among member institutions in the field of rehabilitation medicine under the framework of the Sub-Alliance for Medical-Engineering Collaborative Innovation.