Enhanced collaboration among enterprises, academia and research teams is needed to promote the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, a high-level forum heard on Dec 1.
It is important for BRI countries to contribute wisdom to enhance the initiative’s vitality, academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering and president of Beijing University of Chemical Technology (BUCT)，Tan Tianwei said in his opening remarks to the 2023 Belt & Road International Forum on Academic & Industrial Cooperation, which was held at BUCT.
People-to-people exchanges and collaborations are also strongly needed, said Tan, citing the achievements that BUCT has made in talent cultivation, enterprise partnership, as well as in the establishment of laboratories and innovation centers.
Collaboration among enterprises, academia and research teams refers to a synergistic partnership, which aims to leverage the unique strengths and resources of each sector:
The forum was co-hosted by the China Center for International People-to-People Exchange (CCIPPE) under the Ministry of Education and BUCT, and organized by the Institute of International People-to People Exchange for Chemical Industry. The theme of this year's event was "Joint International Students Education and Exchanges" and "Joint International Research Cooperation and Technology Transfer".
Senior officials from China, Indonesia, Pakistan and other BRI countries also delivered keynote speeches at the forum.
CCIPPE Deputy Director-General Cao Diefeng said that China is willing to further deepen educational cooperation with BRI countries by fully manifesting the role of Chinese universities like BUCT, and seeks to jointly improve civilizational exchanges and mutual learning.
"Amity between the people is the key to sound state-to-state relations. Through people-to-people exchanges, we aim to build a foundation for economic and trade cooperation among BRI countries" said Cao.
Talking about BRI achievements, Deputy Chief of the Mission of the Indonesian Embassy in China Parulian George Andreas Silalahi stressed that China is the biggest trade partner of Indonesia.
Data shows that in 2022, bilateral trade between the two nations surged to $149.1 billion, marking a 19.8% YoY increase. Furthermore, China has emerged as a key source of tourism and the second most popular destination for Indonesian students.
As an alumnus of Central China Normal University, Yudil Chatim, the Education and Culture counselor of the Indonesian Embassy in China encouraged Indonesian students to study in China.
"Seeing is believing. Only once you come to China in person you will know.”
Noting the forum's focus on collaboration among enterprises, academia and research teams, Sun Songtao, vice-president of Shandong Linglong Tyre Co.,Ltd., highlighted his company as a talent practice base for students jointly cultivated by BUCT and King Mongkut’s Institute of Technology Ladkraban in Thailand.
Sun said that he welcomes more cooperation with BUCT and other universities in BRI countries to innovate the cultivation model of international talent.
The forum also witnessed BUCT signing agreements with international universities, including National Research Tomsk State University, Kazan National Research Technological University, and Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman.
Marking the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative in 2023, the forum called for strengthened ties and collaboration among enterprises, academic institutions, and research teams across BRI countries, showcasing a commitment to building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Gao Wenjun contributed to this story.
