This news item is about: Cornell University and The City University of Hong Kong have signed a memorandum of understanding to establish terms of collaboration for the creation of the first veterinary medicine academic program in the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region (SAR). Under the prospective collaboration agreement, Cornell University College of Veterinary Medicine would provide in-depth and ongoing advice and guidance to City University in the planning, establishment, operation, and evaluation of the new School of Veterinary Medicine, with the goal of securing international accreditation in the future. The School will offer a Bachelor of Veterinary Medicine degree, granted by the City University of Hong Kong. Cornell University and City University expect this School to serve as an international center of excellence in veterinary medicine in Asia. The international collaboration is motivated by a growing awareness of the need to develop strong programs in veterinary public health as a response to the increasing global threats of zoonotic diseases and of outbreaks of food and water-borne diseases.