Meeting Held to Conclude ASEAN-China Smart Ocean Practice Program

On March 13, Tianjin University held a meeting to conclude the ASEAN-China Smart Ocean Practice Program.

Su Rongxin, Vice President of the School of Marine Science and Technology (SMST[y1] ) delivered an opening speech and briefly introduced the ASEAN-China Smart Ocean Center (ACSOC) and the ASEAN-China Smart Ocean Practice Program. This Program was jointly organized by Tianjin University, Tianjin Maritime Safety Administration, the People’s Government of Tanchang County, Yan'an Vocational and Technical College, Tianjin University of Technology and Huayang Maritime Center. With the joint efforts of the government, universities and enterprises, the program recruited trainees from impoverished families in Tanchang County and provided seafarer courses to them.. “This Program is part of ACSOC’s efforts to help China’s poverty alleviation. It also promoted and served the ASEAN-China economic and trade exchanges,” Su said.

Du Fuqiang, on behalf of the trainees from Tanchang County, presents a pennant to Tianjin University

On behalf of all trainees form Tanchang County, Zhang Xiaogang thanked Tianjin University and the government of Tanchang County for the valuable learning opportunity. Zhang said that after four-months studying , they not only mastered the professional skills they would live on, but also gathered the courage to live up to people’s expectation in future.

He Liqian, Deputy Governor of Tanchang County Government pointed out the importance of improving the employment skills of the local labor force. He hoped that the trainees would work hard toward a prosperous life and become role models in their hometown who make a living out of international shipping business while contributing to the development the Belt and Road Initiative.

During the meeting, a cooperation agreement on the construction of ASEAN-China Smart Ocean Practice Program Training Base was signed between Tianjin University and Huayang Maritime Center to deepen cooperation between the two sides in the field of Smart Ocean high-end training and seafarer training.

Hu Wenping, Vice President of TJU also attended the meeting and delivered a speech. He stressed that by helping one people, the whole family may be helped and more people influenced. Tianjin University was always ready to take its social responsibility and proactively help people in need. Hu expressed his gratitude to all the organizations participating in the joint training program, and hoped that each organization would not only "help them now", but also "help them go further", making Tanchang’s seafarers training a brand and a long-term poverty alleviation system. “It’s our sincere wish that the trainees are bold enough to leave their hometown to embrace a new world. Be diligent and curious for new knowledge all time, and a better future awaits you and your hometown,” Hu remarked.