On the morning of September 11, 2023, the fourth phase of the Indonesian government-GEM-Central South University joint international metallurgical engineering master training program was signed at the Coordinating Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Investment of Indonesia (hereinafter referred to as the "CMMAI"). This is China and Indonesia have implemented the proposal made by Chinese Premier Li Qiang when he attended the China-Indonesia Business Dinner in Jakarta on September 5 and delivered a speech: "We hope that Chinese and Indonesian entrepreneurs will work hard to be the promoters, disseminators and leaders of the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, create more benefits for the people of the two countries, and make greater contributions to the construction of a community with a shared future between China and Indonesia." This initiative will push the scientific and technological cultural exchanges and cooperation between GEM and the Indonesian government to a new stage, a higher pattern and a wider scope, cultivate engineering and technical talents for Indonesia, achieve cultural integration, and grow together with Indonesia.

Mr. Mao Weiming, Deputy Secretary of the Hunan Provincial Party Committee and Governor of Hunan Province, who came to Indonesia for inspection, led a business inspection delegation of the Hunan Provincial People's Government and Guo Xueyi, Vice President of Central South University to the CMMAI to witness the signing ceremony and conduct cooperation and exchanges. Firman Hidayat, Deputy Minister of the CMMAI, Professor Satryo, Special Assistant to the Minister, and Mr. Dwi Larso, Scholarship Director of the Indonesian Education Fund Management Agency (LPDP) attended this event. Professor Xu Kaihua, Board Chairman of GEM, was invited to participate in this exchange event.

Deputy Minister Firman Hidayat, Professor Satryo, and Mr. Dwi Larso spoke successively, expressing warm welcome to Governor Mao Weiming, Vice President Guo Xueyi and Professor Xu Kaihua, and expressed their sincere gratitude to the achievements of the Indonesian Government-GEM-Central South University joint international metallurgical engineering master training program. They agreed that this move complied with Indonesia's national talent training needs and the high-quality development of Indonesia's mineral resources. It creates a demonstration model for China-Indonesian scientific and cultural cooperation. It will help GEM to assist the upgrading of Indonesia's nickel resources industry and provide funds, technology and talents. The all-round support is greatly appreciated. They expressed their willingness to promote high-level innovative cooperation between universities such as the University of Indonesia and Bandung Institute of Technology and GEM and Central South University to improve the quality of development and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results.

At the meeting, Deputy Minister Firman Hidayat of the CMMAI introduced Indonesia’s resource development status and China-Indonesia cooperation status, and elaborated on the achievements and friendship of China-Indonesia cooperation.

Chairman Xu Kaihua introduced the fruitful results of GEM’s investment of US$1 billion in Central Sulawesi, Indonesia, in the integration of industry, technology and culture: first, in terms of industry, the lateritic nickel ore HPAL technology hydrometallurgy project, the world’s first laterite nickel ore product independently developed and designed by GEM, has been successfully operated in Indonesia and has reached production and capacity, ranking among the world's leading level. It has helped Indonesia achieve industrial upgrading of new energy raw materials directly produced from laterite nickel ore, marking the localization of Indonesia's laterite nickel ore HPAL technology. The success is a historic breakthrough. GEM has now planned to implement the industrial chain from laterite nickel ore directly to power battery ternary materials, and completely open up the industrial chain from laterite nickel ore to new energy ternary materials in Indonesia. The ideal of high-tech mineral applications of "put the laterite nickel ore in and refine the battery materials" is about to be realized. Second, in terms of science, technology and culture, the Indonesian government-GEM-Central South University joint international metallurgical engineering master training program has achieved remarkable results. Under the personal promotion of Minister Luhut of the CMMAI, it has overcome various difficulties such as the epidemic. All of the first batch of the students have graduated with excellent results and are very successful. Most of the graduates are playing an important role in the laterite nickel hydrometallurgy project. They can independently operate HAPL high-tech equipment and are challenging the world's most difficult metallurgical technology. They have become the world's best metallurgical engineers, and the China-Indonesia International Master's Class has become one of the highlight projects of China-Indonesia cooperation. During the reception by President Joko Widodo on July 28, Professor Xu Kaihua promised that GEM would work together with the Indonesian government and Central South University to cultivate 1,000 world-class talents in new energy materials and green metallurgical technology in Indonesia, including 500 world-leading metallurgical engineers!

Simultaneously, Chairman Xu Kaihua announced the investment and construction of a world-class hydrometallurgy and new energy material joint testing center at the Bandung Institute of Technology, promoting the talent cultivation of national engineering technology and engineering in Indonesia with a higher perspective.

Vice President of Central South University Guo Xueyi is full of hope for the prospects of cooperation between schools and enterprises in China and Indonesia. He said that he would rely on the scientific research strength of Central South University, with the support of Chinese governments at all levels, and work together with the CMMAI, GEM, University of Indonesia and Institute Bandung of Technology to vigorously promote the continued development of transnational talent joint training projects and cultivate more high-level professional talents in Indonesia and promote cooperation and exchanges between the two countries in education, scientific research and other fields to a new level.

At the exchange meeting, three outstanding student representatives from the first and second batches of the Indonesian Government-GEM-Central South University joint international metallurgical engineering master training program - Rizky Wanaldi (Indonesian), Wu Xiangyi (Chinese-Indonesian) and Pongajow Viola Dheena (Indonesian), shared their experiences of studying in China with the leaders attending the meeting based on their personal experiences.

Rizky Wanaldi gave a speech on the theme of "Metallurgical Dream". Faced with the current situation that Indonesia is rich in mineral resources but lacks excellent metallurgical engineering technical talents, he dreams of becoming the best metallurgical scientist in Indonesia and processing ore products into high-value products through high-end metallurgical technology to serve Indonesia's metallurgical and new energy industry, to                               make Indonesia a country with developed metallurgical and new energy technology, and to bring prosperity to the Indonesian people through technology. Rizky Wanaldi expressed gratitude to the Indonesian government, Central South University and GEM for being the pioneers in helping him realize his dream!

Wu Xiangyi, a fourth-generation Chinese-Indonesian, used the theme of "100-Year Dream" to trace back through a century and touch the heart. She said: "From the time my great-grandfather sailed across the ocean to make a living in Indonesia to the time I go to study in China, four generations have passed, spanning 100 years. Now that I can go to China to study, I am sure my great-grandparents will be very proud. This is 100 years. The dream I had for years has now come true." She lamented: "Thousands of years and hundreds of thousands of miles can't deny the fact that the Yanhuang gene can be passed on, and the Chinese and Indonesian cultures can be connected!" It proves that the cultural exchanges between China and Indonesia are timeless and long-standing. She promised: "I will cherish this rare opportunity for a century, seize every day, study hard, learn my skills, and make the contribution of Chinese-Indonesians to the development of Indonesia and the long-lasting friendship between China and Indonesia! I must be the pride of the Indonesian government, Central South University and GEM!”

In her speech, Pongajow Viola Dheena sincerely expressed her gratitude. She believes that the China-Indonesia Joint Master's Program is an amazing cooperation. Central South University and GEM have provided her and her classmates with incredible opportunities, superior learning environment and life security. They help her cross cultures and make her dreams come true. This project symbolizes the deep friendship and cooperation between countries and confirms that China and Indonesia are committed to cultivating global talents and promoting cultural integration. This project is not only an investment in her personal future, but also an investment in the future of bilateral relations between the two countries. It is an honor for her to be the beneficiary of this unique partnership.

After listening to the exchange reports from all parties, Governor Mao Weiming expressed his praise for the successful promotion of Central South University's scientific research technology overseas and the entrepreneurial spirit and grand vision of Central South University's outstanding alumni represented by Chairman Xu Kaihua. He said this was an innovative model of "Chinese universities, Chinese entrepreneurs and foreign governments cooperating to cultivate high-level talents. It was a demonstration project for China-Indonesia cooperation and was very successful. He also said that the Hunan Provincial Committee and Provincial Government would fully support the work of the Indonesian government - GEM - Central South University joint international metallurgical engineering master training program, and make new contributions to the high-quality joint construction of the "Belt and Road".

After the exchange meeting, the guests and hosts took a group photo.

Dr. Zhang Kun, deputy general manager of GEM, and Song Wei, assistant general manager of GEM and director of the Jakarta office, attended the meeting.

Meeting site

Mao Weiming, Deputy Secretary of the Hunan Provincial Party Committee and Governor of Hunan Province, attended the meeting

Professor Xu Kaihua, Board Chairman of GEM, introduced GEM’s investment in industries, technology, and culture in Indonesia

Vice President Guo Xueyi of Central South University participated in the exchange and delivered a speech

Rizky Wanaldi, a student representative of the first joint master's program and an Indonesian student, delivered a speech

Wu Xiangyi, a student representative of the second joint training master's class and a Chinese-Indonesian, delivered a speech

Pongajow Viola Dheena, a student representative of the second joint training master’s class and an Indonesian student, delivered a speech

The Indonesian government, GEM and Central South University signed a tripartite agreement to jointly train Indonesian international students

Group photo of Governor Mao Weiming (8th from left), Vice Minister Firman Hidayat (4th from left), Professor Satryo (6th from left), Vice President Guo Xueyi (7th from left), and Chairman Xu Kaihua (5th from left)