Chinese and American university presidents gather at Loeb House on the Harvard campus during a conference break. From left, BACK ROW, STANDING: Xu Tongmo, Xian Jiaotong University; Pan Yunhe, Zhejiang University; Harvey Fineberg, provost, Harvard University; Albert Carnesale, University of California, Los Angeles; John Casteen, University of Virginia; Wang Shenghong, Fudan University; and Nils Hasselmo, Association of American Universities. CENTER ROW: Charles Vest, Massachusetts Institute of Technology; Xie Shengwu, Shanghai Jiaotong University; Jiang Shusheng, Nanjing University; and Nannerl Keohane, Duke University. FRONT ROW, SEATED: Neil L. Rudenstine, Harvard University; Chen Jia'er, Peking University, and Wang Dazhong, Tsinghua University. Photo by Jim Harrison.

Chinese university presidents meet with U.S. university presidents for a conference to share ideas on higher education. Photo by Jon Chase. Peking University President Chen Jia'er (left) speaks at a meeting of Chinese and American university presidents on Friday, Oct. 29, as President Neil L. Rudenstine looks on. Photo by Jon Chase. Participants of the conference walk down Quincy Street between sessions. Albert Carnesale (right), former Harvard provost, is now chancellor of the University of California, Los Angeles. Photo by Jon Chase.

An unprecedented gathering of presidents from seven of China’s leading universities and five U.S. universities took place at Harvard last week.The meetings, which grew out of ties developed during two visits that President Neil L. Rudenstine made to China last year, covered topics ranging from fundraising and admissions to information technology and faculty tenure.

The talks came at a time when China is increasing its emphasis on – and funding for – higher education. Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji announced last year that the government will spend an increasing percentage of its gross domestic product on universities.