On June 12, the opening ceremony of "Talent Program for 21st Century Maritime Silk Road--Co-complete the Blue Dream in 2018" was host by China Merchants Charitable Foundation and China Merchants Port Holdings Co. Ltd., and undertaken by SAIIS. The opening ceremony (hereinafter referred as the “C Blue Talent Program”) was held at the Lingang Campus of Shanghai Maritime University.

Leaders talking before the opening ceremony

      Twenty-five participants from 13 countries in Asia, Africa, Europe and South America participated in the ceremony. President of Shanghai Maritime University Huang Youfang, Vice President Yan Wei, China Merchants Charity Foundation charity ambassador Zhang Wenjuan and Deputy General Manager Zhang Yi of China Merchants Port Holdings Limited attended the ceremony and exchanged ideas with students.

       At the opening ceremony, President Huang Youfang expressed his gratitude to the participants of "C Blue" program and the China Merchants Group for their trust in the university. He said that as a hundred-year-old school featuring shipping, ports, and logistics, Shanghai Maritime University has actively integrated itself into the national “One Belt and One Road” talent strategy through a number of initiatives such as talent development and think tank building.

       The connection between "C Blue" program and Shanghai Maritime University is the result of deep cooperation between Shanghai Maritime University and China Merchants Group based on the strategic consensus.

Prof. Huang Youfang gave a welcome speech

       In 2016, the first “C Blue” program was successfully held at Shanghai Maritime University. This time, the school will uphold the “Shanghai spirit” of mutual trust, mutual benefit, equality, negotiation, respect for diverse civilizations, and seek common development, together with the China Merchants Group and the friends of the “C Blue” program. We are sincerely working together and looking to the future to build the project into a model for international talent training. We are going to provide localized support to the countries along the "Maritime Silk Road", deepen their understanding of China and promote the overseas spread of Chinese culture.

       Ambassador Zhang Wenjuan expressed her gratitude for the strong support of Shanghai Maritime University. She said that the public welfare footprints of China Merchants Charitable Foundation have spread throughout both at home and abroad since it was established. China Merchants Charitable Foundation participated the international aid operations actively to guarantee each individual's full enjoyment of equal rights in economic and social development.

China Merchants Charity Foundation Ambassador Zhang Wenjuan gave a speech

        Since 2016, the foundation has funded the "C Blue" program, which contributes to transfer the development of China's national wisdom and the value concept of "co-building and sharing" destiny community to the word. The "C Blue" summer class is the second joint venture between China Merchants and Shanghai Maritime University. With past programs' experience and tacit understanding, we believe this event will be even more exciting!

Zhang Yi, Deputy General Manager of China Merchants Port Holdings Co. Ltd. delivered a speech

         Deputy General Manager Zhang Yi thanked Shanghai Maritime University for its sincere cooperation. He said that as a pioneer of China Merchants Group's implementation of the national “Belt and Road” initiative, China Merchants Port hopes to share its own development experience and achievements in the port industry with more countries, and help countries along the “One Belt and One Road” train more ports talents.

          It is hoped that through the “C Blue Talented Talents Program”, the policy communication, facility connectivity, trade flow, financial financing, and popular support advocated by the “Belt and Road Initiative” will be deeply rooted in people’s hearts and achieve common development and prosperity.

student representative Aparna Minoli gave a speech

          The student representative, Aparna Minoli, chief legal director of the Sri Lanka Port Authority, delivered a speech. She thanked the organizers of the event: China Merchants Group and Shanghai Maritime University. She said that they will cherish this opportunity and strive to learn new things to bring advanced professional knowledge and excellent culture back to their own countries to promote the development of their countries' port and shipping industry.

confer class flag

          At the opening ceremony, President Huang Youfang and Deputy General Manager Zhang Yi jointly unveiled the "One Belt and One Road Talent Training Cooperation Base" for China Merchants Port-Shanghai Maritime University, marking the formal establishment of the "Belt and Road" international talent cultivation base.

          In the future, the two parties will use this platform to give full play of their advantages and assist in the implementation and development of the national “Belt and Road” talent strategy through various forms of cooperation.

the opening ceremony

         The “C Blue Talents Program” is a non-profit personnel training program for countries and regions along the “21st Century Maritime Silk Road”. It aims to train leading talents in the port industry for the above countries and regions, and to make up for the lack of high-level talents in the relevant local industries. While serving the port and shipping industry in China, it also played a role in promoting the development of the "One Belt and One Road” port and shipping industry.

Executive Vice President of Shanghai International Shipping Institute Yu Siqin presided over

         The program was launched at Shanghai Maritime University in 2016 and has been held for three times. The program has received the attention and support from the host government of the participating trainees, overseas media and the SASAC.

Live photos

         A one-month teaching practice will be held in Shanghai, Beijing, Zhangzhou, and Shenzhen. Two weeks will be organized by the Shanghai Advanced International Shipping Institute. The courses cover the sections of port management, logistics management, free trade area, international cargo transportation, and Chinese culture. Experts and scholars in the fields of port logistics, transportation management and other fields are teaching in English. In addition, a series of cultural exchange activities will be carried out through quality development, visits, seminars, and tours.

group photo