The Durban University of Technology (DUT) has become one of the 70 founding members of the Belt and Road Initiative & South-South Cooperation in Agricultural Education, Science and Technology Innovation League.
This was confirmed during the League’s Founding Ceremony, which was hosted by the China Agricultural University (CAU) from 21 to 23 June 2018 in Beijing, China.
According to the Chinese Director of the DUT Confucius Institute, Frank Lin Wu, the League was initiated by China Agricultural University (CAU) in conjunction with institutions of higher education in the countries along the Belt and Road and countries, with the aim of realizing the overall coverage of the area with complete industrial and disciplinary education, science and technology.
“The Belt and Road initiative is a platform intended to facilitate joint development, realize common prosperity in cooperation, enhance trust and understanding, strengthen overall communications, and cultivate peacefulness and friendship,” said Lin Wu.
“The purpose of this initiative is to build a new platform for international cooperation, adding new driving forces for joint development, facilitating the advantages complementarity and cooperative development of domestic and overseas institutions of higher learning in agriculture and forestry industries, and advancing the mutual benefits and win-win effect in agricultural economic development,” added Lin Wu.
DUT was represented by Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Professor Sibusiso Moyo, and the Chinese Director of the DUT Confucius Institute, Mr Frank Lin Wu. DUT CI’s partner university—Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University, is also one of key founding members of this League.
Prof Moyo presented in an interactive panel discussion themed, “Roles and Functions of universities in the context of the South-South Cooperation”. She also presented a comprehensive introduction of DUT, and highlighted DUT’s role in deepening and expanding its Food and Nutrition focus through the agricultural focus of this initiative as well as strengthening its Science and Technology cooperation with the member states of the initiative.
The League will hold regular conferences of the Belt and Road Initiative and the South-South Cooperation Agricultural Education, Science and Technology Innovative League and discuss key issues affecting those countries and their regions.
Members are also encouraged to form multilateral or bilateral cooperation, and explore a mechanism of innovation on international education, training, science and technology, cultural cooperation and exchanges, and jointly construct the cooperation and exchanges. The League will open membership to more institutions of higher education and research in the light of the commitment to making use of the respective advantages, increasing common views and strengthening joint collaboration at multiple levels.
Pictured: Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Research, Innovation and Engagement, Prof Sibusiso Moyo and Frank Lin Wu receiving the Award League Plate presented to DUT at the Ceremony and hosted by China Agricultural University, in Beijing, China.
Frank Kin Wu and Nduduzo Ndlovu
