As part of its efforts in expanding its international footprint, a delegation from Shanghai Jiao Tong University (SJTU) recently embarked on a trip to Peru and Chile to strengthen academic and industry partnerships aligned with the Belt and Road Initiative. The delegation included representatives from the university’s Publicity Department, Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, and the School of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Civil Engineering.
On May 8th (local time), the SJTU delegation met with Peru’s Minister of Education Morgan Quero and Lima Mayor Rafael López Aliaga. During the meeting, both parties discussed opportunities for further collaboration in education and research. The delegation also met briefly with the Pontifical Catholic University of Peru during that same day.
In the following day, the delegation participated in a roundtable discussion centered around the theme: “Bridging Mountains and Seas: Multidisciplinary Talent Training and Research Collaboration between Chinese and Peruvian Universities in the New Era”. This event featured a number of high-profile attendees, including the following individuals:
- Dong Xie, Shanghai Vice Mayor
- Ping Wang, Deputy Secretary-General of the Shanghai Municipal People’s Government
- Yaming Zhou, Director of the Shanghai Municipal Education Commission
- Zhen Gao, Associate Dean of SJTU’s School of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Civil Engineering
Hao Hu, Standing Committee Member and Director of the Publicity Department at SJTU, delivered a keynote speech that energized the room, facilitating conversations between SJTU and representatives from four Peruvian universities—Pontifical Catholic University of Peru, Universidad del Pacífico, University of Lima, and Cayetano Heredia University. The talks included topics on academic discipline development and research collaboration, specifically collaboration opportunities that pertain to the transformative Chancay Port project.
Later in the afternoon, a major milestone was reached as SJTU’s School of Naval Architecture, Ocean and Civil Engineering signed a new cooperation framework agreement with COSCO Shipping Ports Chancay Peru. Vice Mayor Dong Xie attended the event, who applauded SJTU’s proactive role in supporting the nation’s priorities and expressed hope that the university would continue nurturing young, socially responsible talent. This partnership signals marks a new chapter in university-industry cooperation; by integrating SJTU’s expertise in engineering and innovation with COSCO’s leadership in port development, the two parties aim to set a role model for Belt and Road cooperation in research, education, and infrastructure.
On May 11, the delegation moved forward with a visit to Chile, where the representatives met with Zhen Ma, chargé d’affaires at the Chinese Embassy in Chile to discuss possibilities for further educational cooperation between the two countries. The next day, the delegation participated in a work session between between Shanghai officials and Chile’s Acting Minister of Education, Alejandra Arratia. They also stopped by the University of Chile to explore more collaboration opportunities.
While in Chile, the delegation also met with various SJTU alumni working in the country, marking SJTU’s 130th anniversary with a special commemorative event in the process. The event was held under the theme “Bearing the Flag Together”, capturing the sense of community and collective pride shared among SJTU alumni and supporters.
Through a series of candid, in-depth dialogues on international cooperation, the visit helped strengthen ties with partners in Latin America and laid the foundation for more open, diverse forms of international exchange.