A new platform has been established to foster cooperation between the two Tsinghua Universities on both sides of the Taiwan Strait. Prof. Lih J. Chen, President of National Tsing Hua University (NTHU), and Prof. Jining Chen, the newly appointed President of Tsinghua University in Beijing, signed a cooperative agreement for research programs on NTHU campus on October 8^th 2012. Both Tsinghua have committed themselves to long-term cooperation in six areas: humanities and social sciences, management, biotechnology, nanotechnology, energy and environmental technology, basic scientific research, and information and network communication technology.

With this cooperative agreement, both universities will benefit from each other and create a win-win relationship. Funding is also provided by the two universities to promote long-term sustainable collaboration and to enhance cross-strait relationship in academic research. President Lih J. Chen indicated that "the cooperative research between faculty and researchers at both universities will soon yield outstanding results."

President Chen further stated that the two Tsinghua Universities share the same historical roots and have engaged in frequent exchanges. Recent events held at NTHU have demonstrated the profound relationship between the two institutions. These were: "The Legacy of Tsing Hua Grandmasters Forum" which was attended by the descendants of the masters; a press conference of the new book "Father-and-Son Wonders: A Heritage of Tsing Hua," written by the father and son Presidents of NTHU, Professors Hsien-Hsiu Hsu and Hsia-Sheng Hsu; The Commemoration of Governor Wu Kuo-Cheng and General Sun Li-Jen; and the commemoration of the 50^th anniversary of the passing of President Mei Yi-chi, which was held at the end of last October. President Lih J. Chen emphasized that "the glorious past and the bright present of both Tsinghua Universities will ensure the achievement of a greater future."

"I really feel at home," said President Jining Chen when he visited NTHU. He has received numerous invitations from universities around the world since taking the position as the President of Tsinghua University on February 20^th. However, he stated that "the first university that I visit must be our blood brother and will always be National Tsing Hua University!" President Jining Chen further stated that Beijing Tsinghua's cooperation with NTHU is designed to benefit the faculty and students, and is dedicated to reinforcing the relationship of both NTHU and Beijing Tsinghua.

President Jining Chen also indicated that interdisciplinary education programs offered at both Tsinghua facilitated students' knowledge acquisition and the cultivation of pluralism. He believes that the effective implementation of IT technology in education can enhance resource sharing and benefit students immensely. President Lih J. Chen added that E-learning has been greatly promoted at NTHU; in 2009, NTHU has established an online program for technology management, in addition, faculty members have developed software programs for online assignments and examinations.

Prof. Gwo Shangjr, Vice President of Research and Development at NTHU, also attended the signing ceremony and stated that since the beginning of research cooperation between the two Tsing Hua Universities three years ago, there has been an increase in frequent collaboration between the teaching faculties at both universities. Starting with cooperation in science and engineering, coordination spread to the fields of humanities and social sciences in 2012, and there are a large number of projects in other fields being proposed. Prof. Gwo hopes that the research exchanges can deepen the cooperation to the extent of offering dual degrees and regular exchanges of scholars and faculty, and he expects to see more R&D achievements from both institutions. "The number of joint research projects proposed by faculty members from the two universities was 30 last year. This year, the number has reached approximately 30 more, and it involves faculty in diverse areas," said Prof. Gwo.

This year is also the 50^th year of the passing of President Mei Yi-chi. Many alumni of the two Tsinghua Universities have attended the ceremony to commemorate President Mei’s educational philosophy and spirit. President Jining Chen also visited the Dr. Mei Memorial Garden at NTHU to pay his respect. In addition, he visited various NTHU research centers, including the Nuclear Science and Technology Development Center and the Brain Research Center to have a first-hand experience of these state-of-the-art facilities.