The opening ceremony of the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Doctoral Training Innovation Center was held at the International Campus of Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on Sept 5.
The first batch of 120 doctoral students from six SCO member countries—China, Russia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Uzbekistan—embarked on their new journey towards achieving their dreams.
During the ceremony, the Harbin Project of Roadmap for the Plan of Innovative Training of Doctoral Students in the Shanghai Cooperation Organization was released and the HIT International Campus was officially inaugurated.
Representatives of mentors and outstanding doctoral students from 13 top universities worldwide participated in the event.
The construction plan for the center, led by HIT, has been included in the list of achievements for China's rotating presidency of the SCO for the period 2024-25.
Wu Yan, vice-minister of the Ministry of Education, emphasized that HIT, as a major Chinese educational institute, has a longstanding focus on cooperation with Russia and excels in international collaboration.
"The establishment of the International Campus and the initiation of the center are significant steps towards deepening the integration of education, science, and talent development, aiming to cultivate outstanding academic and research talents," Wu said at the ceremony. "I hope that the center would jointly nurture high-level innovative talents, conduct high-quality scientific research, and strengthen the transformation of high-quality achievements."
He also encouraged the doctoral students to be diligent learners, innovative creators, contributors to global service, and ambassadors of friendship.
Sui Hongbo, vice-governor of Heilongjiang province, noted that as a frontier province in China's cooperation with Russia and Eurasia, Heilongjiang is actively integrating into the Belt and Road Initiative, striving to become a new highland for opening up to the north.
"The establishment of the center is a milestone in the province's educational opening-up and an important platform for China and SCO member countries to jointly cultivate future academic and research talent," he said. "The inauguration of HIT's International Campus marks a new stage in the internationalization of Heilongjiang's education."
"Heilongjiang will continue to deepen international exchanges and cooperation, strengthen policy support, optimize service guarantees, and accelerate achievement transformation to establish Harbin as the northern hub of SCO educational cooperation and the intellectual engine of the China-Russia-Mongolia Economic Corridor," he added.
Chen Jie, Chair of the HIT Council, stated that under the guidance of the Shanghai Spirit and driven by the important consensus reached at the SCO Tianjin Summit, the center will cultivate a high-level, international, and interdisciplinary team of young leaders in science, technology, and humanities for the SCO, helping to build a community with a shared future for humanity.
HIT President Han Jiecai emphasized that HIT will collaborate with top universities worldwide, focusing on frontier fields such as energy, information technology, and nanomaterials, to gather outstanding young talents globally.
"As the chair unit of the center, HIT is committed to providing comprehensive resource support and building communication bridges to jointly cultivate a strong elite force capable of leading cooperation and supporting the community with a shared future for humanity, contributing wisdom and strength to the prosperity and stability of the SCO," he said.
SCO Deputy Secretary General Batir Tursunov gave a video speech at the ceremony.
"As new milestones in educational integration, the China-SCO Doctoral Training Innovation Center and HIT's International Campus will strongly promote academic talent cultivation and facilitate the thorough integration of industry, academia and research," he said. "The SCO Secretariat will continue to support the realization of innovative development strategic goals, deepening mutual understanding and trust."
HIT Vice President Shuai Yong, and Ma Kai, director of the political department of the Heilongjiang Provincial Public Security Department, signed the Strategic Cooperation Agreement on Jointly Promoting High-Quality Talent Exchange at the event. The agreement focuses on supporting talent and education development in Heilongjiang.
The opening ceremony of the China-Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO) Doctoral Training Innovation Center was held at the International Campus of Harbin Institute of Technology (HIT) in Harbin, Heilongjiang province, on Sept 5. [Photo/WeChat account of Harbin Institute of Technology]
Wu Yan, vice-minister of the Ministry of Education, delivers a speech at the event. [Photo/WeChat account of Harbin Institute of Technology]
Sui Hongbo, vice-governor of Heilongjiang province, delivers a speech.[Photo/WeChat account of Harbin Institute of Technology]
Chen Jie, Chair of the HIT Council, hosts the event. [Photo/WeChat account of Harbin Institute of Technology]
HIT President Han Jiecai releases theHarbin Project of Roadmap for the Plan of Innovative Training of Doctoral Students in SCO. [Photo/WeChat account of Harbin Institute of Technology]
SCO Deputy Secretary General Batir Tursunov delivers a video speech. [Photo/WeChat account of Harbin Institute of Technology]
Beijing Foreign Studies University President Jia Wenjian delivers a speech. [Photo/WeChat account of Harbin Institute of Technology]
Sergei Kharitonchik, rector of the Belarusian National Technical University, delivers a speech. [Photo/WeChat account of Harbin Institute of Technology]
Professor Yuan Chengxun from HIT's School of Physics delivers a speech.[Photo/WeChat account of Harbin Institute of Technology]
RUDN University PhD student Bogdan Kambeldiyev delivers a speech. [Photo/WeChat account of Harbin Institute of Technology]
Representatives accept appointment certificates of the doctoral training innovation center on behalf of the supervisors. [Photo/WeChat account of Harbin Institute of Technology]
PhD student representatives receive doctoral training innovation center badges. [Photo/WeChat account of Harbin Institute of Technology]
The Harbin Project of Roadmap for the Plan of Innovative Training of Doctoral Students in SCO. [Photo/WeChat account of Harbin Institute of Technology]
The Harbin Institute of Technology International Campus. [Photo/WeChat account of Harbin Institute of Technology]
HIT Vice President Shuai Yong and Ma Kai, director of the political department of the Heilongjiang Provincial Public Security Department, sign a cooperation agreement. [Photo/WeChat account of Harbin Institute of Technology]
Guests and students attend the event.[Photo/WeChat account of Harbin Institute of Technology]