On April 29, a delegation led by James Marape, Prime Minister of Papua New Guinea (PNG), visited Guangdong University of Technology (GDUT). The delegation was accompanied by Qian Bo, Special Envoy of the Chinese Government on Pacific Island Countries Affairs, Yang Xiaoguang, Chinese Ambassador to Papua New Guinea, and Ma Wenfeng, Director-General of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Guangdong Province. Qiu Xueqing, Deputy Secretary of the CPC GDUT Committee and President of GDUT, met with the delegation at the Higher Education Mega Center Campus. Du Chengming, Member of the Standing Committee of the CPC GDUT Committee and Vice President of GDUT, attended the meeting and presided over the event.
On behalf of GDUT, President Qiu extended a warm welcome to Prime Minister Marape and his entourage, and briefed the guests on the university’s distinctive features and development. He noted that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and PNG, with profound friendship and fruitful cooperation between the two peoples. The visit presents an important opportunity for GDUT to expand international cooperation and serve the national opening-up strategy. Rooted in the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area, serving the whole nation and embracing the world, GDUT has actively participated in the Belt and Road Initiative. It has forged distinctive disciplinary strengths and strong research capabilities in intelligent manufacturing, green energy, information technology and other fields, providing solid support for high-quality regional development and international exchange and cooperation. Taking this visit as a turning point, GDUT will continue to leverage its strengths to carry out practical cooperation with PNG in talent cultivation, joint research, people-to-people and cultural exchanges and other areas, striving for high-level mutual benefit and win-win results, and contributing to building an even closer community with a shared future between China and Pacific Island Countries.
Prime Minister Marape thanked GDUT for the warm hospitality. He spoke highly of the achievements of China’s higher education and scientific and technological innovation, stressing that GDUT’s experience in engineering talent training and technological innovation offers valuable references for PNG. He stated that PNG attaches great importance to education development and looks forward to further deepening educational cooperation with GDUT to enhance mutual understanding and trust between young people of the two countries. PNG also hopes to conduct multi-level cooperation with GDUT in key sectors including green energy, marine resources and biopharmaceuticals to promote mutual benefit.
Following the meeting, the delegation visited GDUT Innovation Hub, a national-level innovation and entrepreneurship center of the university. The delegation spoke highly of GDUT’s accomplishments in innovation and entrepreneurship education and the commercialization of scientific and technological achievements.
Also present at the event were Thaddeus Kambane, Ambassador of Papua New Guinea to China, officials from PNG’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of International Trade and Investment, and Member of Parliament for North Waghi District; and heads of relevant departments of GDUT, including the CPC GDUT Committee Office, President’s Office, Academic Affairs Office, Graduate School, International Office, College of International Exchanges, and School of Innovation and Entrepreneurship.
