Presidents from China's ten key universities agreed on December 6 at a gathering in Nanjing, capital of Jiangsu Province in east China, to build world-renowned first- class universities.

The group was from China's Beijing University, Qinghua University, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Xi'anJiaotong University, Fudan University, Nanjing University, Zhejiang University, Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong University, and Hong Kong Science and Technology University.

They held that though China's higher education has made great achievements, there is still much to be done if Chinese universities are going to catch up with the world's best schools.

Beijing University President Chen Jia'er said that a university should be judged by its contribution to the nation and society.

He also predicted that Beijing University will enter the ranks of the world's best in another two or three decades.

Qinghua University President Wang Dazhong said that after ten years or more, some leading international universities will appear in China.

All the university heads expressed the desire to build their own school into a comprehensive university and increase exchanges and cooperation with world-renowned universities. (Xinhua)