Stephen Toope, vice-chancellor of the University of Cambridge called for academic institutions to find ways to continue to work together as the greatest issues all institutions or countries face are global. He made the remarks at the Beijing Forum held at Peking University on Dec 5.

"There is nothing like a global pandemic to reveal just how intricately and profoundly connected we are, even in this politically fraught world," he said, adding "an individual research and teaching organization cannot respond on its own. Collaboration is imperative."