Prof Ng Ching-Fa

Prof Ng Ching-Fai is the President of the Beijing Normal University – Hong Kong Baptist University United Intemational College. Prof Ng graduated from the University of Melbourne in Chemical Engineering, eamed his PhD from the University of British Columbia. He started teaching at the University of Hong Kong in 1970. In 1985, Prof Ng joined Hong Kong Baptist University (the then Baptist College) as Head of the Chemistry Department. He was the Dean of Science and Chair Professor of Chemistry prior to taking up the post of the President and Vice-Chancellor of Hong Kong Baptist University in 2001 which he relinquished in July 2010. His research area is heterogeneous catalysis. Prof Ng's scope of service goes beyond the academic world. He has served numerous public committees including Preparatory Committee of the Hong Kong SAR of PRC, Research Grants Council, Council of Hong Kong University of Science and Technology, President of Hong Kong Institute of Science, Non-executive Director of Hong Kong Science Park Ltd.,he is currently a Deputy to the llth National People Congress of the PRC, Visiting Professors of several universities in mainland China.In 2005, Prof Ng was awarded the Gold Bauhinia Star by the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region Government for his outstanding contribution to higher education and public services. In 2009, he was conferred Honorary Fellowship by the University of Aberystwyth for his outstanding contribution to higher education and promotion of international academic collaboration.

Interaction amongst major cultures -the future of humankinds
That the financial meltdown in 2008 was initiated by the most developed and the richest country in the world makespeople wonder what the true reason behind this? And what can people do to avoid similar disaster in the future?

Several years have since lapsed, USA's economy has not yet fully recovered, the European economic crisis is stillfermenting, and even China, the so-called locomotive of economic growth, is entering into a slow track. Seriousconflicts of one kind or another still exist all over the world, and there seems no hope to end all these.
Therefore, asking the question "Does the mankind have a future?" is not just a matter of mere rhetoric.It seems we need a new mode of thinking.

Whether such a mode of thinking could be materialized or not very much depends on the ability of each major culture in self-reflection and the willingness of each major culture to understand,tolerate and appreciate other major cultures.

From this point of view, the issues to be explored in our World Forum today could have a lasting impact.

吴清辉

吴清辉教授为北京师范大学一香港浸会大学联合国际学院校长。吴教授早年留学澳大利亚墨尔本大学并获化学工程学位及化学硕士，后在加拿大英属哥伦比亚大学(UBC)获化学博士。吴教授的专业领域是“多相催化”。他在香港大学及香港浸会大学从事高等教育近四十年，于2001年被委任为香港浸会大学校长，2010年离任。

此外，吴教授积极参与公共事务，曾出任的公职及社会服务包括香港政府研究拨款委员会委员、香港科学园非执行董事、香港科学会会长、香港科技大学校董及多间内地大学的客座教授；第九、十及十一届全国人大港区代表。2005年，吴教授获香港特别行政区颁发金紫星星章，以表扬他在公共及社会服务方面的卓越表现，尤其在推动高等教育发展方面，建树良多。2009年，吴教授获University ofAberystwyth颁授荣誉院士以表扬他对高等教育和提倡国际学术交流的卓越贡献。

文化体系互动——人类走出困境的出路？

2008世界金融危机来自最富有、最发达的国家真正的原因是什么？由它引发的欧债危机还在发酵，美国经济还未走出低谷？各类冲突还不断在世界各地扮演。

究竟“人类还有出路吗？”

看来一定要有新思维，而这种新思维能否形成有赖于各主要文化体系能否自我审视、彼此欣赏、包容。从这个角度看，我们这个论坛要探讨的问题确可以影响深远，引人期待。