From 2015 to 2016 I was grateful to have the opportunity to study at the University of Hong Kong (HKU) on exchange from Durham University in the United Kingdom. HKU is — according to the QS World University Rankings (2026) — the 11th highest-ranked institution globally, the second in Asia as a whole, and the highest in China’s territories. It is also no outlier, as four other Hong Kong institutions appear in top 100 in the world.

Even as the Western mainstream media have painted an ideological and misleading narrative that recent events in the city would “undermine” its academic competitiveness, the continued success of the city’s academic institutions is lasting proof that this has no basis in fact, and that Hong Kong as a whole is a prestigious and worthy place of study.

For myself, the opportunity to study in Hong Kong provided a cultural and educational gateway that was able to bridge East and West. In the city I was able to study Mandarin thoroughly and learn objectively about the history and politics of China in a way that transcended limited Western biases and understandings. It felt like as if I had stepped outside a bubble and this had a lasting impact on my own worldview. This enhanced my own belief in the worth of academic and cultural exchanges, understanding that we need to step beyond our own horizons.

This is precisely why Hong Kong must continue to expand and sustain itself as a global hub of education and academia. Beyond personal experiences, the city’s high level of development, infrastructure and educational endeavor makes it an indispensable resource for global study and research, providing benefits not just for China itself but the wider world. As a recent op-ed by Hayes Tang in the South China Morning Post stated: “Global universities possess the intellectual resources and creative power to transcend existing frameworks narrowed by the discourses of politics, conflict, and competition, and to enrich the world’s imagination. They are entrusted with the role of knowledge stewards to enlighten humanity’s relationship with planetary ecosystems, fostering a healthy and sustainable future.”

When we say Hong Kong is “Asia’s world city” this isn’t just a brand name, it is a factual assessment of the assets which this region offers. From financial services to free trade, to world leading universities, Hong Kong continues to be the most competitive location on this continent

Never has the need for global academic cooperation been more critical. We live in an era where widespread attempts are being made to burn bridges between countries, to douse productive ties in suspicion, hostility and to “pull up the drawbridge” regarding scientific and technological cooperation. Despite this, humanity faces many joint challenges which these forces seek to undermine, such as climate change, pandemic cooperation, and artificial intelligence. It is not an exaggeration to say we are increasingly living in one of the most “anti-intellectual” periods of the modern era, whereby online systems have not expanded human intelligence but have become conveyors of extreme confirmation bias and misinformation.

Because of this, the high-quality resources, infrastructure, and opportunities that the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region’s education system offers are an asset not only to the city and China but also the entire world. Other countries should seek to expand their cooperation, joint research and exchanges with the HKSAR, especially those that are seeking to further their own national technological development, and not least when “traditional” sources of academic excellence are being deliberately undermined by state-led “culture wars”, politically motivated funding cuts and abuse of process against the visas of international students.

When we say Hong Kong is “Asia’s world city” this isn’t just a brand name, it is a factual assessment of the assets which this region offers. From financial services to free trade, to world leading universities, Hong Kong continues to be the most competitive location on this continent.

The author is a British political and international-relations analyst.

The views do not necessarily reflect those of China Daily.