On 30 July, Harbin Engineering University (HEU) signed a strategic cooperation agreement with the National Deep Sea Center, opening a new chapter of comprehensive cooperation in talent cultivation, platform construction and resource sharing.

ZHANG Chunlei, Director of the Deep Sea Center, and Professor YIN Jingwei, President of HEU, attended the signing ceremony. The event was presided over by Professor HAN Duanfeng, Vice President of HEU. SONG Chengbing and DING Zhongjun, Deputy Directors of the Deep Sea Center, and CHEN Hailong, Assistant to the President of HEU, also participated in the ceremony.

President YIN stated that as the world’s fifth deep-sea technology support base, the Deep Sea Center has continuously enhanced its capacity for major project support and comprehensive services, and provided key technical support for HEU in a number of major scientific research tasks. The two sides share a solid foundation for cooperation and broad development prospects, he said. He expressed hope that both sides would align their efforts with national strategic needs, further expand cooperation areas and improve cooperation mechanisms, jointly plan major scientific and technological tasks, and deliver a batch of high-level, high-impact research outcomes, so as to provide talent support and technical guarantees for the high-quality development of China’s deep-sea cause.

ZHANG Chunlei noted that the Deep Sea Center has accumulated rich practical experience and landmark achievements in deep-sea exploration and scientific expeditions, contributing to the high-quality growth of the marine economy. HEU has made important contributions to China’s national defence modernisation and economic and social development. Over the years, the two sides have carried out practical cooperation in deep-sea scientific research and joint training of high-end marine talents, and HEU has consistently sent outstanding graduates to the Deep Sea Center. He expressed expectation that both sides would further innovate cooperation models, jointly tackle core technologies and cultivate high-level innovative talents, promote the integrated development of industry, university and research, and make greater contributions to national development together.

SONG Chengbing and HAN Duanfeng signed the strategic cooperation agreement on behalf of the two sides.