The 2021 Silk Road International Symposium on the Cooperation and Integration of Industry, Education, Research and Application of Energy & Chemicals is held on October 29.

Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU) organized a symposium on the cooperation and integration of industry, education, research and application of energy and chemicals on October 29 at the university's iHarbour.

The symposium was held under the guidance of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges (Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs) under the Ministry of Education, and the Education Department of Shaanxi Province. China University of Petroleum-Beijing at Karamay was a co-organizer.

Xi Guang, vice-president of Xi'an Jiaotong University (XJTU), gives a speech.

In his speech, XJTU Vice-President Xi Guang said that it is time to deepen cooperation and integration of industry, education, research and application in response to energy development and global climate change in the context of the changing global landscape and spreading epidemics, as well as the reshaping of the global industrial chain and supply chain,

"Standing at the starting point of the Silk Road, XJTU initiated the establishment of the University Alliance of the Silk Road, and under this framework initiated the chemical engineering and energy sub-alliance, and carried out fruitful international exchanges and cooperation, achieved remarkable results in scientific research and international cooperation and integration of industry, education, research and application. We look forward to new results from this symposium," Xi said.

Gao Ling, deputy head of the Education Department of Shaanxi Province, said that the current international community more than ever needs to cooperate to meet challenges, achieve coordinated development, and work together to build a community with a shared future for mankind.

As an important field gathering talent and technology, higher education has undergone revolutionary changes in its development concepts and models. International cooperation and exchanges have become more frequent, and the cooperation and integration of industry, education, research and application has become an irresistible trend.

The construction of iHarbour is an exploration of a new form of Chinese higher education in the 21st century. It is a model of the deep integration of international cooperation of industry, education, research and application and the mutual promotion of higher education and local economic and social development.

"In the future, I hope that we will work together to improve the development alongside the Belt and Road Initiative and inject new momentum of cooperation into the construction of the Silk Road Economic Belt," Gao said.

Steve Griffiths, vice-president of the Khalifa University of Science and Technology, gives a speech.

Steve Griffiths, vice-president of the Khalifa University of Science and Technology, believed that the symposium brought like-minded colleagues in the energy and chemical industry together for academic exchanges and sharing, which is of great significance to the early realization of carbon neutrality goals.

Participants also witnessed the signing of four representative cooperation projects by XJTU. Guests such as Henry J Curran, fellow of the Royal Irish Academy, Zhang Shengyong, CAE member (academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering), and Yang Yusen, an expert from China Huaneng Group Co., Ltd., a key state-owned company established with the approval of the State Council in the energy field, also gave special reports.