The 55th IKCEST Training Programme for Silk Road Engineering Science and Technology Development & Xinjiang University's 3rd Special Training Programme on Silk Road Strategies for international students was held in International Cultural Exchange College of Xinjiang University on the morning of June 1st, 2019. It was co-hosted by the International Knowledge Centre for Engineering Sciences and Technology (IKCEST) under the Auspices of UNESCO, Xi’an Jiaotong University and Xinjiang University, and was organized by IKCEST Silk Road Training Base. Yang Rong, Vice Dean of International Cultural Exchange College of Xinjiang University, hosted the opening ceremony. Wang Kui, Dean of International Cultural Exchange College of Xinjiang University, Zhang Pingchuan, Vice Dean of the School of Continuing Education of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Du Qinghe, Professor of the Faculty of Electronic and Information Engineering of Xi’an Jiaotong University, Jin Rong, Associate Professor of the School of Foreign Studies of Xi’an Jiaotong University, and all the trainees attended the opening ceremony.

      Wang Kui, Dean of International Cultural Exchange College of Xinjiang University, made a welcome speech on behalf of Xinjiang University and extended a warm welcome to the leaders and experts of Xi’an Jiaotong University as well as the IKCEST Silk Road training team. As Xinjiang University was chosen to host Training Programme for Silk Road Engineering Science and Technology Development once again, she expressed her appreciation for it. In the speech, she said that Xinjiang University has held two IKCEST Training Programmes for Silk Road Engineering Science and Technology Development, and more than 70 foreign students from 11 countries registered for the workshop this time, which fully indicates the popularity and influence of this training programme among the foreign students in Xinjiang University. Dean Wang also expressed some requirements to the trainees. She hoped that the trainees could make good use of this opportunity to improve their abilities in various aspects through this training so as to become a comprehensive talent that can adapt to international development. She also hoped that they could understand China and the world in depth so as to become a cultural envoy for the promotion of the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and friendly international exchanges.

     Professor Zhang Ping Chuan, Vice Dean of the School of Continuing Education of Xi’an Jiaotong University, introduced the background, development goal and the significance of IKCEST Silk Road Training Base. He pointed out that Xinjiang is the key point of the Silk Road Economic Belt, and Shaanxi Province is the birthplace of the ancient Silk Road. He also said that the training cooperation between the two universities could achieve the sharing of China's advanced technological achievements and the latest knowledge of science and technology development in the world for foreign students so as to achieve global cultural and technological exchanges. Therefore, the cooperation would make contributions to promoting friendship and cooperation among countries along the Silk Road and jointly promote the development and prosperity of all countries in the world.

      Daniel, a Ghanaian student studying in Xinjiang University, spoke as a representative of foreign students. He first expressed his gratitude to IKCEST Silk Road Training Base, Xi'an Jiaotong University and Xinjiang University for jointly offering all foreign students this precious opportunity of training. He said that IKCEST Training Programme for Silk Road Engineering Science and Technology Development was very popular among foreign students of Xinjiang University. In each training, foreign students have gained a lot. At last, he expressed his love for China and Xinjiang. And he promised to make great efforts to learn cultural and scientific knowledge and make contributions to the scientific and technological exchanges and developments between China and countries along the Silk Road.

     This training is the third cooperative effort between Xinjiang University, IKCEST Silk Road Training Base and Xi’an Jiaotong University to contribute to the Belt and Road Initiative. It aims to jointly cultivate personnel for Belt-road countries, improving the quality of education for international students, promoting cultural, scientific, technological and educational exchanges so as to contribute to economic and social development of European, Asian and African Belt-road countries and regions.