A student speaks at the first Shanghai Jiao Tong University – Osaka University Student Forum, where participants share how they have dealt with the challenges brought about by COVID-19 pandemic. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

The first Shanghai Jiao Tong University – Osaka University Student Forum was in the form of an online conference on Saturday.

The forum, which was attended by more than 100 students from both sides, was focused on how university students in the two countries have been handling challenges brought about by COVID-19.

Eight student representatives from both schools gave keynote speeches during the forum.

Zhou Jia, a Shanghai Jiao Tong University undergraduate who majors in public health and preventive medicine, spoke about the school's efforts in controlling the source of infection, cutting off the transmission vectors, and protecting vulnerable groups.

A biology major from Osaka University shared a story of students from her faculty taking the initiative to participate in research and development projects of COVID-19 vaccines and medicines.

A teacher speaks at the first Shanghai Jiao Tong University – Osaka University Student Forum, where participants share how they have dealt with the challenges brought about by COVID-19 pandemic. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Students from both schools also shared how their lives have been impacted by the pandemic and how they have attempted to deal with the changes.

Ma Jiaojiao from the School of Media and Communication of Shanghai Jiao Tong University recalled of the time she participated in epidemic prevention and control efforts in her home village and how she helped fellow villagers sell specialty foods through livestreaming during those months of difficulty.

"The forum shows that the youngsters from China and Japan are joining hands to go through hard times together. It encapsulates the sense of social responsibility that today's university students have and their contributions to building a community with shared future," said Ding Jian, deputy director of the School of Foreign Languages of Shanghai Jiao Tong University and the Japan Research Center of the university.