This year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. In order to serve the initiative and implement the “HUST Global Development Strategy 2030”, Vice President Chen Jianguo led the HUST delegation to visit Malaysia and Thailand from March 16th to 21st. This visit aims to promote exchange and cooperation between HUST and Universiti Malaya and Mahidol University, to investigate the construction strategy of Xiamen University Malaysia, and to promote the steady and sustained development of partnerships along the Belt and Road contracting countries.
Vice President Chen Jianguo led HUST delegation to visit Xiamen University Malaysia
Upon arriving in Malaysia on March 16th, the delegation went to Xiamen University Malaysia and met with President Wang Ruifang and Vice President Zhang Ying to exchange views on their experience in running international university campuses.
On March 17th, the delegation visited Universiti Malaya, where they met with Vice Presidents Shaliza Ibrahim and Yvonne Lim Ai Lian, who are responsible for research and innovation and global cooperation affairs respectively. The two sides had in-depth discussions on joint talent training, scientific and technological cooperation, and technology transfer coordination. They also exchanged views on future cooperation between the two universities in fields such as intelligent equipment, artificial intelligence, and economics.
Vice President Chen Jianguo and HUST delegation visited Universiti Malaya
The two universities have established good research cooperation in the field of intelligent marine equipment and technology. The Joint Laboratory of Naval Architecture and Intelligent Marine Equipment built by the two universities has been included in the international scientific and technological cooperation achievements of Hubei International Technology Exchange Conference. During this meeting, both sides agreed to carry out comprehensive cooperation in areas such as teacher and student exchanges and joint training, scientific research and technology breakthroughs, and technology transfer. Experts from related disciplines from both universities participated in the discussions and conducted disciplinary cooperation.
Exchange session between Vice Presidents
After the visit to Malaysia, the delegation went to Thailand and had a discussion with Nopraenue Sajjarax Dhirathiti, the Vice President of Mahidol University in charge of international affairs. They then held a signing ceremony for the Core Partnership Agreement to promote the upgrading of cooperation between the two universities.
Vice President Chen Jianguo and Vice President of Mahidol University signed the Core Partnership Agreement
Nopraenue Sajjarax Dhirathiti spoke highly of HUST’s vigorous development in recent years. She stated that Huazhong University of Science and Technology is a renowned university in China and enjoys a high reputation in fields such as medicine and public health, which aligns perfectly with the strengths of Mahidol University. The similar discipline structure and past mutual trust and cooperation have provided a favorable foundation for deepening the cooperation between the two universities. The signing marks a new starting point for the friendly exchanges between the two universities. It is hoped that the two universities will continue to work closely together to promote higher level, all-round cooperation and open a new chapter of friendship.
In his speech, Chen Jianguo stated that Mahidol University has a long history and is an important partner of HUST in Thailand. The two universities share strong similarities and complementarities in their academic strengths and have broad prospects for future cooperation. He further emphasized that the signing of the "Core Partnership Agreement" will surely open up opportunities for all-round pragmatic cooperation between the two universities in the next stage. He hoped that both universities will continue to uphold the spirit of openness, inclusiveness, mutual learning and mutual benefit to make greater contributions to scientific development and human well-being.
During the cooperation prospect session, the Office of International Affairs of both universities reviewed their past cooperation and exchanged views on promoting the scientific research and academic cooperation between the two universities in the next stage.
Afterwards, Chen Jianguo and Vice President Nopraenue Sajjarax Dhirathiti jointly signed the Core Partnership Agreement, marking the formal establishment of the core partnership between the two universities.
Chen Jianguo and HUST delegation visited Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital of Mahidol University
During the visit, the delegation also attended a symposium on industrial and economic exchanges between China and Malaysia, held by the Asia-Pacific Economic Review. They exchanged views on topics such as education, economy and trade, science and technology, and culture with Ma Hanshun, former Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Education Malaysia, as well as industry representatives. The delegation also visited Faculty of Medicine Ramathibodi Hospital of Mahidol University and had discussions with Boonsong Ongphiphadhanakul, the Vice President in charge of scientific research, and Prut Hanutsaha, the Vice President in charge of graduate education. They exchanged views on cooperation in areas such as scientific research, medical services, and innovative talent education and management in the medical field.
Experts and scholars from the School of Artificial Intelligence and Automation, the School of Naval Architecture and Ocean Engineering, the School of Economics, the School of Public Administration and Tongji Hospital of HUST participated in relevant activities.
Written by: Gao Yifei
Edited by: Hu Zhenxiang, Chang Wen, Peng Yumeng