An award-winning mathematician has called for the establishment of an Asian mathematical union following Hong Kong’s unsuccessful bid to host the 2030 International Congress of Mathematicians (ICM). The International Mathematical Union (IMU) awarded the hosting rights to Glasgow, Scotland, during a vote held on Tuesday.

Shing-Tung Yau, a Tsinghua University professor, Fields Medal recipient in 1978, and member of the Hong Kong bid committee, expressed disappointment over the outcome. Yau attributed the result in part to the entrenched voting influence within the IMU, where the European Mathematical Society wields a dominant majority. By contrast, Asian countries collectively hold less than one-quarter of the voting power.

Yau emphasized that while regions such as Europe, North America, Africa, and Latin America have established umbrella organisations to coordinate regional efforts within the mathematical community, Asia lacks a comparable institution. He called for the creation of an Asian Mathematical Union to better represent the interests of mathematicians in the region, enhance collaboration, and promote coordinated advancement of mathematical sciences across Asia.

In spite of the bid loss, Chinese mathematicians have secured prominent roles within the IMU. He Xuhua, a professor at the University of Hong Kong (HKU), was elected vice-president of the union, becoming only the second Chinese mathematician to hold the position and the youngest in nearly two decades. He described the appointment as both a personal achievement and a recognition of China’s growth in mathematical research. “I hope to actively champion open collaboration and academic exchange globally,” He said, emphasizing the importance of bringing Chinese mathematical achievements to the international stage and facilitating opportunities for Chinese scholars.

HKU President Xiang Zhang acknowledged He’s election as a reflection of Hong Kong and China's academic strength. Zhang expressed hope that the milestone would inspire young scientists to pursue ambitious goals in global academia.

Additionally, Shan Peng, a professor at Tsinghua University, was elected grants secretary of the IMU’s Commission for Developing Countries, further representing Chinese mathematicians in significant IMU roles.

The IMU has not commented publicly on the call for an Asian Mathematical Union.