A　new　adsorbate-mediated　strategy　was　developed　to　enhance　the　metal-support　interaction　of　Cu/CeO2,　aiming　to　improve　its　catalytic　activity　and　sintering　resistance　in　the　water-gas　shift　(WGS)　reaction.　By　treating　Cu/CeO2　in　a　20CO2/2H2　gas　mixture　for　the　formation　of　surface　HCOn　(n　=　2,　3),　there　was　significant　enhancement　of　the　interaction　between　CeO2　and　Cu.　The　HCOn　adsorbate　was　removed　through　calcination　in　an　O2/Ar　atmosphere　at　400　°C　for　6　h.　The　as-obtained　Cu/CeO2　catalyst　was　compared　with　the　untreated　counterpart　in　the　WGS　reaction.　It　was　observed　that　CO　conversion　at　350　°C　was　86%　and　47%,　respectively,　over　the　two　catalysts.　The　superiority　of　the　former　is　attributed　to　the　enhanced　interaction　between　Cu　and　CeO2.　In　a　run　of　15　h　at　400　°C,　the　treated　catalyst　showed　no　obvious　sign　of　deactivation.　©　2018　American　Chemical　Society.