On June 19, 2024, the “Belt and Road Initiative” International Training Course on Port Digital Transformation kicked off in Beijing. It was hosted by the Ministry of Science and Technology of China, organized by China Waterborne Transport Research Institute of the Ministry of Transport, and co-organized by China Communications Construction Group, the Base of Global Leadership Development of the International Centre for Engineering Education under the auspices of UNESCO (ICEE) and Zhejiang Provincial Seaport Investment & Operation Group. CHEN Chao, Vice President of China Waterborne Transport Research Institute of the Ministry of Transport, MA Jun, Deputy General Manager of the Human Resources Department of China Communications Construction Co., Ltd., WANG Sunyu, Deputy Director and Secretary General of ICEE and a professor of Tsinghua University, and YE Zhihang, Deputy General Manager of Zhejiang Provincial Seaport Investment & Operation Group Co. Ltd., attended the opening ceremony, and LIANG Ke, Director of the Science and Technology Exchange and Cooperation Center of the China Waterborne Transport Research Institute of the Ministry of Transport, presided over the ceremony.

WANG Sunyu delivers a speech

Prof. Wang Sunyu first expressed his warm congratulations on the commencement of this training course. He introduced ICEE and its Base of Global Leadership Development. He said that since its establishment, the base, guided by its strategic cooperation idea of “originating from engineering, relying on engineering, improving engineering and returning to engineering”, has made efforts to cultivate local talents, especially those in Africa, and achieved fruitful results. It has been fully recognized by Lidia Arthur Brito, UNESCO Assistant Director-General for Natural Sciences.

Opening Ceremony

CHEN Chao introduced the China Waterborne Transport Research Institute of the Ministry of Transport in his speech, and encouraged the trainees to enhance communication in their studies. MA Jun introduced China Communications Construction Group, and hoped that the trainees could bring back what they have learned and achieve better results in their work through this learning and exchange activity. YE Zhihang briefed the trainees on Zhejiang Provincial Seaport Investment & Operation Group Co. Ltd., and said that the group actively participates in the Belt and Road Initiative and strives to build a world-class port and a world-class enterprise.

The leaders and trainees who attended the opening ceremony watched the promotional video of the China Waterborne Transport Research Institute of the Ministry of Transport. Afterwards, the trainees introduced themselves and expressed their gratitude to the organizers of this training.

The 20 trainees from 13 countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative, including Algeria and Brazil, will attend the 15-day training in Beijing and Ningbo, Zhejiang. They will learn the courses on China’s port construction and development, port digital transformation practice, and the intelligent and green development of the ports.