Tropical regions account for 39.8% of the world's total land area, with 109 countries and regions and 40% of the world's population living there. They are blessed with natural endowments and are rich in biological, linguistic, and cultural diversity, which are crucial to the realization of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. However, despite their rapid development in recent years, tropical countries/regions still face serious challenges in terms of economy, science and technology, education, healthcare, and environment protection.

Hainan University, situated in the one and only tropical province of China, launched the League of Tropical Universities in November 2023 in collaboration with 7 other world leading universities and research institutions in the tropics, including the Chinese Academy of Tropical Agricultural Sciences, Cairo University in Egypt, Universiti Malaya and Universiti Teknologi Petronas in Malaysia, University of São Paulo in Brazil, Institut Teknologi Bandung in Indonesia, and Chulalongkorn University in Thailand. As of January 2025, a total of 76 universities and research institutions from 30 countries and regions have been brought together, forming a network of cooperation across national borders and integrating multiple cultures, contributing to the promotion of global ecological balance and economic and social development.

To advance the common development of higher education and economic and social development in the tropical regions, the LTU 2025 Summit will be held by Hainan University from April 13 to 16, 2025, in Haikou, Hainan Province, P. R. China.