State Councillor Liu Yandong urged China to enhance international co-operation in education and work closely with Hong Kong in tertiary education during a visit to the University of Hong Kong this morning.

HKU Council Chairman Dr Leong Che-hung, Secretary for Education Michael Suen and Secretary for Food & Health Dr York Chow greeted Madam Liu at the institute's faculty of medicine.

She praised its high level of research excellence and encouraged the faculty to continue its dedicated hard work and contribute to society.

She said the university had rich experience in nurturing young talent and profound academic achievements.  "I hope that Hong Kong will join hands with the Mainland to raise the level of education in the country," she said.

Top of the class: State Councillor Liu Yandong visited the Hong Kong University's faculty of medicine, where she was briefed on its history and visited the Genome Research Centre. She then met with Sinologist Prof Jao Tsung-i.

During her visit to the State Key Laboratory of Emerging Infectious Diseases, she recognised the importance of surveillance and control of emerging diseases. She encouraged medical professionals to work hard to guard against infectious diseases.

She later visited the Genome Research Centre where university Vice-Chancellor Prof Tsui Lap-chee briefed her on the research conducted there.

Accompanied by Secretary for Transport & Housing Eva Cheng, she called on renowned contemporary Sinologist Prof Jao Tsung-I. She sent the professor regards on behalf of Premier Wen Jiaobao for being awarded the Fellowship of China Central Research Institute of Culture & History.

In the afternoon, Madam Liu met presidents and vice-chancellors of the 10 local tertiary institutions. She then met Hong Kong youth representatives and attended a welcoming reception of the 2009 Boao Youth Forum (Hong Kong).

She will return to Beijing this evening.