On August 25, 2024, Mikhail Chudakov, Deputy Director General and Director of the Nuclear Energy Department at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), visited Harbin Engineering University (HEU). During his visit, President Song Yingdong and Vice President Yu Zhiwen welcomed him in the VIP Conference Room at the university’s office building.

Song Yingdong expressed gratitude to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for its support and assistance to Harbin Engineering University (HEU). He provided a brief overview of the development of HEU’s nuclear discipline and highlighted that since the start of cooperation with the IAEA in 2008, HEU has increasingly engaged with the global nuclear education community. HEU has trained graduate students from African member states of the IAEA and, through the Chinese Government's Atomic Energy Scholarship Program, has developed a group of outstanding nuclear professionals, technical experts, and senior managers. These efforts have significantly contributed to the peaceful use of nuclear energy worldwide.

Chudakov commended China for its significant achievements in nuclear power and its pioneering role in the peaceful use of nuclear energy. He noted that Harbin Engineering University (HEU) has collaborated with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) for many years, making important contributions to technical development and educational cooperation in the nuclear field. Chudakov emphasized that the mutually beneficial partnership in nuclear education and human resources development enhances the training of nuclear professionals in developing countries and supports global nuclear energy advancement and the transition to clean energy.

During the visit, Chudakov delivered a lecture titled "IAEA's Contribution to Sustainable Energy Development" to faculty, students, and international students at the College of Nuclear Science and Engineering. He also toured relevant laboratories and enterprises.