As the world counts down to the 2030 deadline of the UN agenda, major economies like China and Germany are encountering common challenges, which call for collaboration across borders. To generate and facilitate the required synergy, universities and research institutions should fully release the potential of knowledge and innovation through robust global engagement.

Guided by its Sustainability Action Plan: A Global ZJU for Social Good (Z4G), Zhejiang University is working to enhance sustainability-related education, research and operations through a variety of programmes and activities. As one of the important annual events under Z4G, the Sino-German Sustainable Development Forum (SGF) has been successfully held in 2021 and 2022, each year bringing with joint efforts and great support from research institutions including DAAD and Alexander von Humboldt Foundation.