On April 15, the signing ceremony of the strategic cooperation agreement between Northeastern University and Nanning City was held in Nanning, Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region. NEU President Zhao Ji and Academician Wang Guodong of the Chinese Academy of Engineering were present at the signing ceremony. Relevant persons-in-charge, experts and professors from President’s office, Graduate School, Office of Technology Transfer, External Liaison and Cooperation Department, Industry group and State Key Laboratory RAL attended the signing ceremony.
Prior to the signing ceremony, Chen Wu, Chairman of the Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region Government, met with President Zhao Ji, Academician Wang Guodong and their delegation at the regional government. Chen Wu expressed his appreciation for Northeastern University's advantages in technological innovation and achievement transformation. He hoped that Northeastern University would take this strategic cooperation as an opportunity and make full use of its advantages in scientific research and talents, so as to promote the development of the aluminum intensive processing industry in Guangxi, to help with "second-time pioneering" of the aluminum industry, and to cultivate more high-end talents that are in urgent need for the industry development of Guangxi Province.
Zhao Ji gave a brief introduction to the background of Northeastern University, especially emphasized that NEU had always been upholding the characteristics of responsibility and pioneering spirit, focusing on the national strategic priorities, and vigorously promoting the collaborative innovation of industry, university and research since the establishment of the university. Zhao Ji thanked Chen Wu for his attention to the development of Northeastern University, and thanked the government of the autonomous region and Nanning City for their support to the team headed by academician Wang Guodong. He hoped that NEU would further strengthen cooperation with Guangxi in future in terms of achievement transformation, cooperation between university and government, and postgraduate training program. While providing services to the Guangxi government, NEU would meanwhile contribute to the construction of a “Double First-class University”.
Wang Guodong introduced the overall plan and details of a three-step construction project of the Advanced Aluminum Processing Innovation Center. He stated that the RAL laboratory team should write the research paper on the land of our motherland and effectively implement the ideas of “build the nation into a strong education power and science and technology power” put forward by Xi Jinping, General Secretary of CPC Central Committee. RAL laboratory team will try our best to serve the major strategic needs of the country, and serve the main battlefield of the national economy.
After the meeting, the signing ceremony was held in Nanning People's Government. Wang Xiaodong, member of the Standing Committee of the Party Committee of the Autonomous Region and Secretary of Nanning Municipal Party Committee, and Zhou Hongbo, Mayor of Nanning were present at the signing ceremony.
According to the agreement, in order to thoroughly implement the spirit of the Nineteenth Party Congress, establish a system of technology innovation with deep integration of industry, university and research, and promote the transformation of scientific and technological achievements, Northeastern University and Nanning will carry out cooperation in terms of scientific research and industry, intellectual support and technology, personnel training and some other aspects. Northeastern University will build a state-level advanced aluminum processing and innovation center with a leading international level in Nanning in an effort to form internationally leading innovation outcomes with independent intellectual property rights, promote key technologies and equipment manufacturing, serve the real economy, and create great benefits in economy, society as well as environment.
On the morning of April 16th, Zhao Jixi and his delegation visited Nannan Aluminum Processing Co., Ltd accompanied by Zhu Huidong, Deputy Mayor of Nanning, and Zheng Yulin, General Manager of Guangxi Nannan Aluminum Processing Co., Ltd.