John Lee Chi-kin, a national political adviser from the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, considers the 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) period the perfect time for the region to consolidate its position as an international talent hub and cultivate a generation of high-caliber talent to meet the country's needs.

Lee, who is in Beijing for the two sessions — the annual meetings of the National People's Congress, the nation's top legislature, and the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, the country's top political advisory body — said that escalating global geopolitical tensions and tightening talent policies in some Western economies provide an opportunity for the special administrative region.

At this year's two sessions, discussions surrounding a draft outline of the 15th Five-Year Plan are expected to take center stage. Lee is among the many political advisers from Hong Kong who have proactively aligned their proposals for the two sessions with the blueprint and actively engaged in the national dialogue.

The draft outline vows support for the HKSAR, particularly in advancing its development into an international hub for high-caliber talent.

In an exclusive interview with China Daily, Lee, who also chairs the Education University of Hong Kong, said he sees the current geopolitical climate as an opportunity for Hong Kong to expand its international vision beyond traditional Western partners to embrace broader horizons, including the Global South.

Hong Kong's unique advantage lies in it being an international metropolis where East meets West, backed by the motherland and connected to the world through initiatives like the Belt and Road, Lee said.

"When some countries become less welcoming," he noted, "Hong Kong can both attract its own students and seize the chance to broaden its international engagement."

This mission features prominently in Lee's proposals to the CPPCC National Committee, centering on developing the HKSAR into an international education hub and building the "Study in Hong Kong" brand.

Beyond simply attracting students to study there, his proposals also address how to improve the support system for newly arrived talent, helping them better integrate into Hong Kong society.

"We need to consider how these students can be given opportunities to remain in Hong Kong for further development, how they can come to understand the unique characteristics of the HKSAR, and how they can eventually contribute to the nation or other regions," Lee said.

Lee also highlighted early childhood education, citing an old Chinese saying, "a 3-year-old's character shapes the rest of the person's life" — as the early years, particularly before the age of three, are critically formative.

"Providing quality early childhood services and nurturing care during this stage can have a profoundly positive impact on a child's long-term development," Lee said.

Guided by the pivotal plan, EdUHK has positioned itself not only as an institution responding to local needs but also as an active bridge connecting the HKSAR with the Chinese mainland and attracting global talents.

Lee said an education-focused institution must align with the national emphasis on integrated development of "education, technology and talent".

"The teachers we cultivate are the talent who will enable our society to meet the future. They must be equipped with technological proficiency and possess a spirit of patriotism and love for Hong Kong."

Lee said EdUHK will soon announce a new curriculum framework and related initiatives concerning artificial intelligence to train future teachers.

Integration with the country's overall development also forms a cornerstone of EdUHK's strategy. The university has established partnerships with institutions on the mainland and is building a Shenzhen research institute focused on teacher training and regional cooperation.

Lee further emphasized that as a "cradle to nurture engineers of the human soul", the university's mission extends beyond imparting professional knowledge to cultivating a strong sense of national identity. This is achieved through detailed patriotic education initiatives, including experiential study tours featuring carefully curated visits to historical and cultural sites that provide deep, contextual learning.

The institute is also pursuing the "going global and attracting talent" strategies. These involve active promotions overseas, hosting and expanding international programs, and systematically internationalizing curricula and campus composition.