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As the 7th China Space Day approaches, the 5th anniversary conference of the International Forum on Aerospace Education and the Belt and Road Aerospace Innovation Alliance (BRAIA) will was recently successfully concluded online in China.
As the 7th China Space Day approaches, the 5th anniversary conference of the International Forum on Aerospace Education and the Belt and Road Aerospace Innovation Alliance (BRAIA) will was recently successfully concluded online in China.
Professor Zhang Weihong, Fellow of the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Vice President of Northwestern Polytechnic University (NPU), Ms. Feng Chunping, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Chinese Astronautical Society (CSA ), Liu Baoping, Deputy Director of Shaanxi Provincial Government Education Department, Ms. Jiang Hui, Advisor to the National Space Administration of China in Russia, Ms. Yu Qi, Secretary General of the Cooperation Organization Pacific Space Agency (APSCO) attended the meeting and delivered speeches. Over 100 representatives of BRAIA members and international organizations, including the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs, attended the meeting. The conference was chaired by Professor Zhang Fuli, director of the International Cooperation Office and dean of the International College, NPU, China Economic Net (CEN) reported Thursday.
Experts and scholars from Pakistani universities, which are important partners of the NPU in South Asia, attended the conference and wrote reports.
Dr. Adnan Maqsood from National University of Science and Technology (NUST) made a working report, stating that NUST has achieved fruitful results through close cooperation with BRAIA and a group of Chinese universities including NPU , over the past five years. For example, since October 2020, researchers from Pakistani universities have been actively engaged in joint research seed fund projects initiated by BRAIA in the fields of aerodynamics, composites and microsatellites. In addition, during the difficult period of the fight against COVID-19, the Permanent Secretariat of BRAIA has remained in close contact with NUST.
NPU Permanent Secretariat Office managed to donate a batch of masks to NUST, hoping that BRAIA members will overcome the difficult time hand in hand.
In addition, Dr. Adnan Maqsood also promoted an upcoming Aerospace Education Internship Program for international students this summer. Essentially, the idea of this internship for international students is to acclimatize them to high-tech research labs. Moreover, the opportunity will also allow international students to learn from industry experts in addition to gaining hands-on experience.
The program is open to university students from all BRAIA members and plays a huge role in promoting the exchange of talents in aerospace and other fields between different countries.
In addition, during the conference, Rehan Abdul Baqi, Rector, Institute of Space Technology (IST), Pakistan also sent greetings to celebrate the 5th anniversary of BRAIA. Professor Najam Abbas Naqvi of IST has written an academic report on the topic of exploring and practicing multilateral scientific research and cultivating aerospace talent.
Regarding cooperation between NPU and Pakistani universities and research institutes, both sides have achieved fruitful results. Nowadays, NPU has maintained close connection with National Engineering and Science Commission and more than ten universities including NUST, IST and Air University in Pakistan.
As the permanent secretariat of BRAIA, NPU has strongly supported NUST to assume the leadership role in South Asia as the first BRAIA regional development center. It also demonstrates that Pakistan is one of the important countries that NPU strives to collaborate with based on its envisioned global footprint. NPU aims to enhance capacity building for Belt and Road countries and regions based on the consensus reached and joint efforts made with BRAIA and its partners in Pakistan.
So far, BRAIA has 74 members from 22 countries on 6 continents around the world. It has organized 33 large-scale cultural, scientific and technological exchange activities, from which more than 4,500 teachers and students have directly benefited.
Looking to the future, as the permanent secretariat of BRAIA, NPU will further enhance cooperation with Pakistani universities and research institutes in the fields of scientific research, joint educational institutions, college collaboration – business, etc. to comprehensively implement the Belt and Road Initiative.
This news was originally published by Associated Press of Pakistan.
