On July 2^nd, the opening ceremony of the USTB United Nations(UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) series program was held in the Auditorium & Staff Activity Hall of USTB. Prof. Shahbaz Khan, Director of the UNESCO Regional Office for East Asia; Mr. YU Changxue, Director General of the China Center for International People-to-People Exchanges, Ministry of Education; Prof. WANG Qinglin, Chair of China Council, the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and Pacific (FEIAP); Prof. YANG Renshu, President of USTB; Prof. LYU Zhaoping, Vice President of USTB; Prof. WANG Luning, Vice President of USTB and heads of relevant functional departments and schools, representatives of teachers and students attended the event. The ceremony was presided over by Prof. LYU Zhaoping.

Prof. LYU Zhaoping presided over the ceremony

At the beginning of the ceremony, participants watched the promotional video of SDGs to learn about the history of development and the specific content of the SDGs

Prof. YANG Renshu delivered a speech

Prof. YANG Renshu introduced the history of USTB development. He indicated that on the road to practicing SDGs, USTB has always followed the same direction with constructing and developing “the Belt and Road initiative,” high-quality talent cultivation, and high-level scientific innovation. Also, he emphasized that USTB will deeply grasp the theoretical connotation and practical requirements of Sustainable Development, practice SDGs, plant the concept of “a Community with a Shared Future for mankind,” and make new contributions to the construction of a beautiful home where human beings live in harmony with nature.

Mr. YU Changxue delivered a speech

In his speech, Mr. YU Changxue affirmed the outstanding achievements made by USTB in recent years, introduced the various forms of practical cooperation between the China Center for International People-to-People Exchanges and USTB, and stressed the importance of Sustainable Development work and the profound significance of USTB's holding SDGs Series Program. He said that the Center would continue to work with USTB and friends from all walks of life to contribute to achieving the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

Prof. Shahbaz Khan delivered a speech

Prof. Shahbaz Khan delivered his speech on the significance of youth in sustainable development. He indicated that young people are the living force of UNESCO and can bring inexhaustible motivation for Sustainable Development. He pointed out that the SDGs Series Program will play its role as an opportunity to strengthen ties with youth groups and better cultivate important power for Global Sustainable Development.

Launch Ceremony for SDGs Series Program

Subsequently, the six leaders pressed the starting column together in the countdown of the students on site, officially launching the SDGs Series Program.

Prof. Shahbaz Khan gave an Invited Lecture on SDGs

After the Opening Ceremony, Prof. Shahbaz Khan delivered the Invited Lecture on SDGs. The lecture elaborated on the core content and significance of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and analyzed the challenges and opportunities in the process of achieving these goals with specific cases. Students put forward their opinions on the issues related to the Sustainable Development Goals, and Prof. Shahbaz Khan offered them patient and detailed answers.

Visiting the National Materials Corrosion and Protection Data Center and University History Museum

Before the ceremony, Prof. Shahbaz Khan and Mr. YU Changxue visited the National Materials Corrosion and Protection Data Center and University History Museum of USTB, accompanied by Prof. ZHANG Dawei, Director of Office of International Affairs, learning about USTB's cutting-edge scientific and technological achievements in the field of materials corrosion and protection as well as its history and development.

Visiting the exhibition of SDGs releated works

After the meeting, participants visited the Olympic Plaza, USTB, to visit the exhibition of students' works. Prof. Shahbaz Khan spoke highly of the student's creativity and talent. He encouraged them to continue to focus on the SDGs and actively participate in the series of practical activities on Sustainable Development.

Group photo 

The SDGs Opening Ceremony mainly includes the SDGs Launch Ceremony, an Exhibition of the introduction of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), an Exhibition of USTB-UN SDGs related achievements, Activities of students' poster creativity demonstration, and an Exhibition of students’ works of dual-creation and energy-saving projects.

2024 is the "Year of Internalization" of USTB. With an open and inclusive international vision, USTB will continue to deepen its cooperation with the United Nations and other international organizations and constantly expand new channels and fields of international cooperation and exchange. USTB will take full advantage of scientific research, teaching, and talent cultivation to participate in the discussion and practice of SDGs actively and to promote the in-depth integration.

Draft: DONG Xuanxi

Revision: CHENG Mingyuan