To implement the important consensuses reached by the heads of state of China and Russia, and China and Uzbekistan, expand the university's international cooperation and exchange channels, and facilitate the "Three Ones" Project for internationalized school-running and the construction of "Belt and Road" joint laboratories. From August 18 to 24, Zhang Lifeng, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee and President of our university, led a delegation to Russia and Uzbekistan. The delegation visited Ural State University of Railway Transport and Ural Federal University in Russia, as well as Tashkent University of Information Technologies and Tashkent State Technical University in Uzbekistan. Additionally, our university and five friendly Uzbek universities jointly established a student employment and internship practice base at China Energy Engineering Central Asia Energy Investment FE LLC. During the visit, President Zhang Lifeng was also invited to attend the 17th China-Russia Symposium on Advanced Materials and Technologies and served as the moderator. Moreover, the first overseas alumni association of North China University of Technology was established in Uzbekistan.

Visit Ural State University of Railway Transport

On August 19, the delegation visited Ural State University of Railway Transport in Russia, marking the first meeting between the leadership teams of the two universities. Alexander Gennadyevich Galkin, Rector of Ural State University of Railway Transport, Nina Friedrichovna Sirina, Vice Rector for Research, and Victoria Sergeyevna Okintseva, Vice Rector for International Affairs, met with our university‘s delegation. The two parties signed an inter-university exchange agreement, officially establishing a friendly cooperative relationship.

During the symposium, the two universities respectively introduced their overviews of education and teaching, advantageous disciplines, scientific research, and international development. The Dean of the Faculty of Transport Process Management, the Dean of the Faculty of Electrical Engineering, and the Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering of the university held in-depth exchanges with relevant officials from our university on professional development and future cooperation. Ural State University of Railway Transport’s engineering majors such as electrical engineering, mechanical engineering, and materials science are highly compatible with those of our university. The two sides discussed and planned to launch programs including student exchanges, 2+2 dual-degree programs, and short-term academic training, and also exchanged views on faculty exchanges and cooperative research.

Founded in 1956, Ural State University of Railway Transport is the only higher education institution specializing in transportation in the Ural region. It is a renowned comprehensive engineering university with balanced development in both liberal arts and sciences, enjoying equal fame with Moscow State University of Railway Transport and Saint Petersburg State University of Railway Transport.

The university boasts a strong faculty and holds the authority to confer academic degrees at the bachelor's, master's, and doctoral levels. It has 18,500 enrolled students and 1,100 high-caliber professional teachers, covering 6 faculties, 23 teaching and research sections, and 12 modern research and education centers.

As a key university for Russia's "Belt and Road" initiative and a designated cooperative institution of the Federal Ministry of Transport of Russia, the university is also a member of the Association of Rail Transit Universities in the Asia-Pacific Region. It wields considerable influence in the fields of transportation talent cultivation and scientific research.

Visit Ural Federal University

From August 20 to 21, the delegation of our university visited the main campus and new campus of Ural Federal University. Koksharov Viktor, Rector of Ural Federal University, Tushin Sergey, Vice Rector for International Affairs, and Germanenko Alexander, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, met with the delegation. The two parties signed an inter-university exchange agreement, officially establishing a friendly cooperative relationship.

Given that both universities have strong research teams and experimental platforms in the field of metallurgical materials, President Zhang Lifeng highlighted the High-Quality Steel Key Laboratory of our university and its research work, and proposed the idea of jointly establishing a laboratory in the future. The two sides discussed cooperation on specific research projects in this field, and also communicated and negotiated on inviting academicians of relevant disciplines to carry out short-term research work at our university, as well as inviting teachers and doctoral students to participate in short-term visiting programs at our university.

Our university's delegation gained an in-depth understanding of the development of the university's Metallurgical Materials Laboratory. The two sides exchanged views on scientific research areas such as metallurgical materials research and development and performance optimization, and focused on planning and designing the construction plan for the future China-Russia "Belt and Road" National Key Laboratory, initially reaching a cooperation intention. Meanwhile, they held detailed discussions on the cooperation model and implementation path for specific research projects in this field.

At the end of the exchange, President Zhang Lifeng presented his personal academic works to Professor Sheshukov Oleg Yurievich, Dean of the Faculty of Metallurgy, laying a solid foundation for further strengthening cooperation and exchanges between the two parties.

Ural Federal University，also known as Yeltsin University, is one of the four major engineering institutes of the former Soviet Union. The university has 36,000 students from 101 countries around the world and more than 4,500 faculty members, including top global experts.

Its institutes offer over 460 bachelor's, master's, and doctoral degree programs in natural sciences, engineering, social sciences, humanities, economics, and management, taught in both Russian and English. The number of its alumni exceeds 380,000.

Committed to international cooperation, the university has over 500 partners worldwide and is an active participant in initiatives such as the Sino-Russian Alliance of Comprehensive Universities, BRICS Network University, Shanghai Cooperation Organization University, University of the Arctic, CIS University, and the Erasmus+ Program. It ranked 331st in the 2021 QS World University Rankings.

Attend the 17th China-Russia Bilateral Symposium on Advanced Materials and Technologies

From August 19 to 20, the 17th China-Russia Bilateral Symposium on Advanced Materials and Technologies opened in Yekaterinburg, Russia. The symposium was co-hosted by institutions including the Chinese Society for Non-Ferrous Metals, China GRINM Group Corporation Limited, Chinese Materials Research Society, The Chinese Society for Metals, Chinese Society of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Chinese Academy of Engineering, China Non-Ferrous Metals Industry Association, and the Baikov Institute of Metallurgy and Materials Science of the Russian Academy of Sciences.

As a member of the Chinese Organizing Committee and moderator of the symposium, President Zhang Lifeng was invited to attend. He also presented our university’s cutting-edge research achievements in fields such as metallurgical new materials, green manufacturing processes, and metal matrix composites, to deepen China-Russia cooperation in the field of new materials.

The two-day symposium featured 10 plenary reports from experts of each country, respectively introducing the research status and latest progress of new materials and new technologies in China and Russia in recent years. A total of more than 400 participants from universities, research institutes, enterprises and public institutions of both countries attended the event.

Visit Tashkent State Technical University and Tashkent University of Information Technologies in Uzbekistan

From August 22 to 23, our university delegation visited two sister universities in Uzbekistan, which are also the country’s top two engineering universities — Tashkent State Technical University and Tashkent University of Information Technologies.

The delegation held cordial talks with Academician Turabdjanov Sadritdin, Rector of Tashkent State Technical University, Donayev Sardor, Vice Rector for Research, and Zaripov Oripjon, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs. Based on deep mutual trust and friendly exchanges, the two sides exchanged views on the application and implementation of the undergraduate dual-degree joint training program in Electronic Information Engineering and Mechatronic Engineering, and signed a program agreement. In addition, focusing on the upcoming application for the China-Uzbekistan "Belt and Road" National Joint Laboratory for New Energy and Energy Storage, the two sides fully exchanged views on details such as specific application procedures, the establishment of cooperation mechanisms, and the planning of research directions, further clarifying the cooperation path and laying a solid foundation for the launch of the joint laboratory and subsequent cooperation. After the symposium, the delegation visited the university’s Power System Laboratory, Photovoltaic Energy Storage Microgrid Practice Base, Electrical Detection Instrument Laboratory, Basic Circuit Laboratory, and the new energy experimental base invested and constructed by domestic electrical enterprises.

During the delegation's visit to Tashkent University of Information Technologies, they met and held in-depth exchanges with Bakhtiyor Makhkamov, Rector of the university, Djamshid Sultanov, Vice Rector for Academic Affairs, Komil Tashev, Vice Rector for Research, and Zayniddin Karshiev, Rector of the Samarkand Branch Campus. The two sides exchanged views on the joint training of postgraduates in Artificial Intelligence and Computer Science, as well as joint faculty research projects, and signed an agreement on the master's dual-degree joint training program. On behalf of the university, President Zhang Lifeng also presented gifts commemorating the 70th anniversary of our university's founding to Tashkent University of Information Technologies.

The delegation then conducted an on-site investigation into the university's education and teaching, scientific research, entrepreneurship environment and facilities. They gained an in-depth understanding of the university's educational features in wireless communication technology, and visited its 5G Laboratory, Electronic Technology Laboratory, Artificial Intelligence Technology Laboratory, as well as the Technology Incubation Center and Film & Television Production Base. The delegation believes that the implementation of the joint training program between the two universities has a solid foundation and broad prospects.

At the invitation of the Samarkand Campus of Tashkent University of Information Technologies, President Zhang Lifeng carefully prepared an English-language keynote report on high-quality steel research for the campus’s faculty, which aroused a strong response among nearly 100 teachers present.

North China University of Technology and Central Asia Energy Investment FE LLC signed a strategic cooperation agreement and held a licensing ceremony for the student employment, internship and practice base

On August 22, our university and China Energy Engineering Central Asia Energy Investment FE LLC officially signed a university-enterprise strategic cooperation agreement in Tashkent. Based on the new energy and energy storage projects invested by China Energy Engineering in Uzbekistan, the two parties will establish an industry-academia-research-application cooperation platform for new energy and energy storage technology collaborative innovation and industrial talent joint training.

President Zhang Lifeng gave a detailed introduction to the construction plan of the China-Uzbekistan "Belt and Road" National Joint Laboratory for New Energy and Energy Storage to the guests present. Afterwards, together with the rectors of five Uzbek sister universities—Tashkent State Technical University, Tashkent University of Information Technologies, Andijan State Technical University, Fergana State Technical University, and Navoi State Mining Institute—they jointly unveiled the plaque for the enterprise's employment, internship and practice base.

Feng Jianjiang, General Manager of China Energy Engineering Central Asia Energy Investment FE LLC, stated that the enterprise will provide real work scenarios for students jointly trained by Chinese and Uzbek universities in the future, and cooperate with universities to cultivate international talents suitable for the local market. At the same time, the enterprise will also deeply participate in the construction of the China-Uzbekistan "Belt and Road" National Joint Laboratory for New Energy and Energy Storage, and provide solid corporate support for the laboratory's application with its industrial resources and technical strength.

Prior to the licensing ceremony, our university also signed an agreement on the undergraduate dual-degree joint training program with Fergana State Technical University, covering the majors of Artificial Intelligence, Architecture, and International Economics and Trade.

Establish First Overseas Alumni Association in Tashkent

On August 22, during our university delegation's visit to Uzbekistan, the Uzbekistan Alumni Association of North China University of Technology was established in Tashkent. International alumni representatives and Sardor Donaev, Vice Rector of Tashkent State Technical University, were invited to attend the inauguration ceremony.

The international alumni shared their study experiences at NCUT and their current work and life situations one by one, and expressed sincere gratitude to the university and faculty for their cultivation. President Zhang Lifeng stated that the Uzbekistan Alumni Association, as our university’s first overseas alumni association, is of great significance. He hoped that the association will fully play its role as a "think tank" to unite alumni and a "bridge" for connections, take serving alumni as its purpose, strengthen ties and interactions with the university, and contribute to supporting alumni’s growth, promoting the university’s development, and advancing the construction of the "Belt and Road". As North China University of Technology will celebrate its 80th anniversary next year, President Zhang also hoped that the Uzbekistani international alumni would have the opportunity to return to their alma mater for a visit.

Subsequently, President Zhang Lifeng presented the association flag to alumni representatives, and all attendees took a group photo to commemorate the occasion.