From November 27^th to December 3^rd, Mr. Wu Guilong, Chancellor of USTB, led a delegation to visit Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan. The delegation met with leaders from the Kazakh-British Technical University (KBTU), the Al-Farabi Kazakh National University (KazNU), the Tashkent State Transport University, and the Tashkent State Technical University, and visited the Uzbekistan office of ZTE Corporation. The visit deepened and expanded USTB's collaboration with Central Asian universities and enterprises in education, science, and culture, contributing to the high-quality development of the "Belt and Road" Initiative (BRI) with USTB's efforts.

The Visit to the Kazakh-British Technical University

During the visit to Kazakhstan, the delegation visited KBTU and held talks with Prof. Maratbek Gabdullin, Rector of KBTU. Mr. WU Guilong gave an overview of USTB and its internationalization efforts and emphasized the importance of continuing collaboration in education and scientific research to contribute to technological advancements and cultural exchanges between China and Kazakhstan under the BRI. Prof. Maratbek Gabdullin expressed his pleasure at attending the "Belt & Road" Forum on Scientific & People-to-People Exchange and High-quality Development hosted by USTB in October, where the two universities had signed a cooperation agreement. He committed to continuing close cooperation with USTB to achieve new results and jointly promote the development of higher education in both countries.

The Inauguration Ceremony for the China-Kazakhstan Energy and Resource International Joint Laboratory 

The meeting also included the inauguration of the China-Kazakhstan Energy and Resource International Joint Laboratory and the signing of an agreement to establish the China-Kazakhstan International Joint Laboratory for Enhanced Oil and Gas Recovery, marking a new phase in the partnership between the two universities.

The Visit to Al-Farabi Kazakh National University

The delegation visited KazNU and held discussions with its Prof. Duisenov Yerkin, Deputy Chair of the Board of KazNU. Mr. WU Guilong emphasized that international cooperation and exchange in higher education have become a crucial means of advancing scientific progress and fostering cultural integration. He expressed USTB's commitment to exploring new areas of collaboration with KazNU through this visit, aiming to cultivate high-quality talents with global perspectives and innovative capabilities. During the meeting, both sides exchanged views on collaborative initiatives such as joint student cultivation, collaboration in scientific research, and faculty development.

The Visit to the Tashkent State Transport University

During the visit to Uzbekistan, the delegation visited Tashkent State Transport University (TSTU) and held discussions with Dr. Shaumarov Said Sanatovich and Dr. Turaev Bakhodir Khatamovich, Vice Rectors of TSTU. Mr. WU Guilong introduced the USTB's progress in discipline development and expressed his commitment to further promote cooperation between the two universities through student exchanges and teacher visits.

The Visit to Tashkent State Technical University

The delegation also visited Tashkent State Technical University (TSTU) to conduct research and held discussions with Dr. Sardor Doneav and Dr. Shavkat Azimov, Vice Rectors of TSTU. Dr. Sardor Doneav provided a detailed introduction to TSTU's development and progress. He expressed a willingness to explore high-level collaboration between the two universities in disciplines such as materials, metallurgy, and mining engineering. Mr. WU Guilong stated the importance of continuing to strengthen friendly exchanges between the two universities to inject new vitality and momentum into the higher education cooperation between China and Uzbekistan.

The Visit to the ZTE Uzbekistan Office

During their stay in Uzbekistan, the delegation also visited the ZTE Uzbekistan office to gain a deeper understanding of ZTE's development in the country. The office representatives provided a comprehensive overview of ZTE's development history, technological innovations, and market expansion in Uzbekistan. Mr. WU Guilong commended ZTE for its significant contributions to the development of local communication infrastructure. Both sides engaged in in-depth discussions on how to integrate university scientific and technological achievements with corporate technological innovations.

This visit not only deepened mutual understanding between USTB and Central Asian institutions but also laid a solid foundation for future collaboration. USTB has consistently responded to the BRI by fostering educational cooperation, talent cultivation, scientific research, and people-to-people exchange to promote closer connections among participating countries. Moving forward, it remains committed to contributing to the high-quality development of the BRI cooperation.

Draft: WANG Qiuyu

Revision: CHENG Mingyuan & LIU Benyue