Bialystok University of Technology in Industry-University-Research Institute Cooperation Alliance Between Chongqing and Countries along China-Europe Railway Express (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe) consortium
18-05-2022
On 18 May 2022, the signing ceremony of the letter of intent for cooperation on the establishment of the “Industry-University-Research Institute Cooperation Alliance Between Chongqing City and Countries along China-Europe Railway Express (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe)” was held at Chonqing Jiaotong University (China), combined with the first conference of its members. Due to the still prevailing epidemic emergency in China, consortium members from outside the city of Chongqing attended the conference online.
During the ceremony of signing the letter of intent, our University was represented by Assoc. Prof. Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, DSc, PhD, Rector of Bialystok University of Technology.
During the conference Bialystok University of Technology was represented by Łukasz Nazarko, PhD, Vice Dean for Development and Cooperation of the Faculty of Engineering Management, who had the pleasure of representing the scientific and didactic centre established in 2016 called the International Chinese and Central and Eastern European Institute of Logistics and Service Science. Together with Ms Martyna Wilczewska, a PhD student of the Faculty of Engineering Management, of Bialystok University of Technology, they made a presentation on research activities related to the challenges and opportunities of the Belt and Road Initiative. Ms Martyna pointed out the factors influencing the ability of Polish regions to become involved in the Belt and Road Initiative.
Prof. Huang Chengfeng – Vice President of Chonqing Jiaotong University opened the conference with his speech, then the keynote speech was delivered by the leaders of the Education Commission of Chongqing City and Wu Changfan, Vice President of Chongqing Academy of Social Sciences.
This was followed by the signing ceremony of the Alliance, at which the list of the first council of the Alliance was initially announced and its chairman and secretary-general were appointed. The ceremony was presided over by Zhou Shulin – Chairman of the Board of Directors of Yuxinou (Chongqing) Logistics Co., Ltd.
Next there was the speech of Her Magnificence, Rector of BUT and the signing of the Alliance on the part of BUT, and immediately after the screening of the recording the Alliance was signed by the other members present on-site at the conference.
This was followed by the Blue Book of the Poland Development Report (2021) launch event, during which Yang Qun, Editor-in-Chief of China Social Sciences Academic Press (China), spoke. Grzegorz Morawski, Consul General of the Republic of Poland in Chengdu, also spoke.
The next part of the conference was devoted to the presentations of various issues related to the cooperation with China in relation to the potential of the China-Europe goods train route and the possibilities and prospects for the development of the Silk Road:
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– Zhou Shuli, Chairman of the Supervisory Board of Yuxinou (Chongqing) Logistics Co., Ltd spoke about the development perspective of China Railway Express for 2021-2025;
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Agata Bonenberg, Professor at the Faculty of Architecture, Poznan University of Technology talked about how inclusive space helps build an ageing society;
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Fu Chi, Director of Foreign Economic Affairs Department of Chongqing Economic and Information Commission spoke about the status and prospect of production cooperation between Chongqing and countries along China Train;
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Dong Bingwu, manager of government affairs, Siemens (China) Co., Ltd in his presentation pointed out the integration of manufacturing and education which helps to improve intelligent industrial production solutions;
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Mamyruly Talghatma, Director of the Kazakhstan-China International Language Institute in his speech indicated that Chinese language proficiency along with professional teaching and experience sharing skills serve the “Belt and Road Initiative”;
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Jean Bruno Gauthier, Vice President of the French Association of Small and Medium Enterprises in China together with Anna Li, Secretary General of the Association spoke about the development and future of French small and medium enterprises in China. They pointed out the great potential in Chongqing city for investment by French companies;
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Kong Tianping from the Chongqing Academy of Social Sciences spoke about global trends and cooperation between China and the EU;
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Kitty Zhang, general manager of German Oak International Trading Co., Ltd. spoke about making German warehouses available abroad;
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Ji Kaiyun, professor of the Cultural Research Institute of the Belt and Road Initiative at Southwest University pointed out the relationship between China and Iraq and its impact on the Silk Road;
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Zhang Pan, general manager of Schunavon Home Furnishing/Import & Export Co., Ltd. presented the opportunities and challenges of express rail imports from China to Europe;
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Yuan Hang, Deputy Director, Centre for Polish and Central and Eastern European Studies, Sichuan University in his speech pointed out the global uncertainty towards China and the resilience of China-EU relations;
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Zhu Keping, Director of Rail Multimodal Transport, Global International Freight Forwarding (China) Co., Ltd. convinced the audience that the China-Europe goods train has become the main protagonist of the international supply chain;
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Ong Herchuan, Deputy General Manager of China-Singapore Huantong (Chongqing) Multimodal Transport Co., Ltd. presented the development of cross-border e-commerce logistics between China and Europe and the China-Singapore GMT sharing project.
The consortium includes Chongqing Jiaotong University, YUXINOU (Chongqing) Logistics Co., Ltd. – a local rail transport operator in China, as well as other Chinese universities, enterprises and research institutes. Its main task is to strive to establish a platform for the exchange of ideas as a basis for the connection between the key industries of Chongqing city and the industries of five countries along the Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe railway line, and to promote an industry-university-research institute cooperation mechanism that organically links education, talents, enterprises and innovation chains.
The proposal was initiated by the Chinese university – Chongqing Jiaotong, with which Bialystok University of Technology recently signed a partnership agreement that stems from the cooperation already established. In 2017, during a conference in Chongqing, an agreement was signed between universities and schools of Chongqing city and the Conference of Rectors of Polish Technical Universities. Subsequently, Chongqing universities became part of the Sino-Polish University Consortium, which BUT also belongs to.
The proposal to join the consortium may bring many benefits, as it will allow for closer international cooperation with universities and other institutions from China.
Full text of the speech of Assoc. Prof. Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, DSc, PhD, Eng, Rector of Bialystok University of Technology, during the signing of the letter of intent on cooperation on the establishment of the “Industry-University-Research Institute Cooperation Alliance between the city of Chongqing and countries along the China-Europe Railway Route (Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe)”
Dear President of Chongqing Jiaotong University and representatives of Yuxinou Chongqing Logistics Co. Ltd.
Dear Partners, Distinguished Experts and Scholars,
I am honoured to have the opportunity to express my gratitude to Chongqing Jiaotong University and Yuxinou Chongqing Logistics Co. Ltd. for inviting Bialystok University of Technology to join the Industry-University-Research Institute Cooperation Alliance between Chongqing City and countries along the China-Europe Railway Route.
This proposal is an excellent example of the continuation of the previously established cooperation between our universities. In 2017, during a conference in Chongqing, an agreement was signed between the universities and schools of Chongqing city and the Conference of Rectors of Polish Technical Universities. Subsequently, Chongqing universities became part of the China-Poland University Consortium “One Belt One Road”, which BUT also belongs to. As part of this cooperation, in 2019 we had the pleasure of hosting students from Chongqing universities during a summer school, and in turn our students also had the opportunity to participate in a summer school organised by the Chinese side of the consortium. Over these years our partnership has reached an advanced level of cooperation. I am, therefore very pleased that we have the opportunity to participate in another project together with the city of Chongqing, because I know that it will certainly be very fruitful.
The proposal to establish a consortium together seems very beneficial, as it will allow for closer international cooperation between universities, businesses and research institutes. Such a platform for the exchange of ideas, which is the basis for the connection between the key industries of Chongqing city and the industries of five countries along the Chongqing-Xinjiang-Europe railway line, organically links education, talent, enterprises and innovation chains. It has been 10 years since the launch of the China-Europe goods train route, which has successfully transported products from China to Europe thousands of times. As indicated in the project description, Chongqing currently exports more than it imports, reflecting the underdevelopment of industries in countries along the route. This agreement will certainly enable the organisation of joint projects, consultations, training, publication of results of research initiatives and exchange of professors, which will contribute to joint development of the best solutions, beneficial for both sides.
Bialystok University of Technology pursues a policy of development, promotion and internationalisation in the field of research and education. We actively cooperate with internationally recognised academic institutions in Europe, Asia and America. University employees participate in national and international research and teaching programmes. Therefore, I very much hope that our university and our experts will work together to develop appropriate logistics solutions to meet the challenge of increasing the export of goods and making proper use of the train route to Chongqing. I believe they will present the potential of our region in developing the “Modern Silk Road”.
On my own behalf, and on behalf of the academic community of Bialystok University of Technology, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations on this initiative and also extend my sincerest appreciation to all members of the Alliance.
I wish you all many years of further excellent activity and success in building and developing this initiative and I am pleased to sign this letter of intent for cooperation of Bialystok University of Technology in the consortium.
Assoc. Prof. Marta Kosior-Kazberuk, DSc, PhD, Eng
Rector of Bialystok University of Technology
