On the afternoon of March 24, 2023, Prof. Jiang Hong, Party Committee Secretary of Shantou University (STU), visited the China Center for Special Economic Zone Research (CCSEZR), Shenzhen University (SZU) and the Belt and Road Research Institute (Shenzhen) for International Cooperation and Development (BRRI). Attending the meeting were Prof. Zhang Xiaohong of SZU, Prof. Tao Yitao, Director of CCSEZR and BRRI, Prof. Gao Xingmin and Prof. Li Li, Deputy Directors of BRRI, Prof. Li Fan and Associate Prof. Zhang Ping, Deputy Director of CCSEZR.
Director Tao welcomed Secretary Jiang, and introduced BRRI through the promotional video. During the 7 years since its founding, BRRI has established relationships with many foreign universities, think tanks and international cooperation organizations and built the "Belt and Road Think Tank Alliance", the "Belt and Road University President Alliance" and the "Belt and Road Artist Alliance". It has also developed a training mechanism for officials and CEOs of the countries along the Belt and Road Initiative to share successful experience, planning and management regarding China's SEZs and set up the "Belt and Road Scholarship and Grants" and the "Belt and Road Postdoctoral Visiting Fellowship". The projects conducted captured the attention of the International Department, the Central Committee of CPC and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China, gaining clout among countries along the Belt and Road. Deputy Director Li Fan introduced the development history, staff and faculty, scientific research achievements, academic brand and international exchange of CCSEZR.
Director Tao pointed out that CCSEZR has long been committed to the research on basic economic theories and special economic zones. By upholding the concept of "academics and research going global” and introducing China’s development model to the world, CCSEZR explored new mechanisms in talent introduction and team building. The two universities can pool resources in joint postdoctoral training and subject research, promoting the key research centers’ construction and cultivating high-caliber innovative personnel.
Secretary Jiang paid homage to the achievements CCSEZR and BRRI made in scientific research innovation, talent cultivation and external exchanges. She looked forward to the extended and intensive cooperation between STU and SZU in academic communication, SEZs research and scientific collaboration. She believed that as a pioneer of China’s reform and opening-up, Shenzhen Special Economic Zone’s experience and accomplishments can be an incentive to Shantou Special Economic Zone. STU will strengthen its research in relevant fields. Regarding the research on the “Belt and Road”, “the Shantou ‘Belt and Road’ Scientific Service and Innovation Institute” (Research Center of Silk Road Industrial Development of Southeast Asia) will cooperate with BRRI to build a co-branding think tank for the “Belt and Road” Initiative and promote its high-quality development.
Vice President Zhang Xiaohong warmly welcomed Jiang’s visit. She spoke highly of the achievements made by CCSEZR and BRRI, and praised that BRRI has become a global think tank with international clout, focusing on SEZs research and the “Belt and Road” building. She then introduced the development of the liberal arts of SZU, including talent cultivation, scientific innovation and international cooperation. She said STU and SZU are both excellent universities of higher education with strong discipline advantages and research capabilities. Both sides should strengthen cooperation to promote the economic development of the SEZ under national strategies.
This visit has deepened the exchanges between the two universities and laid a solid foundation for future cooperation between the two universities and the two think tanks. Both sides will further discuss cooperation matters and contribute to jointly boosting the economic growth of the SEZs and the high-quality development of the “Belt and Road”.
