On 7 November 2023, the opening ceremony of the third batch of the GEM-Central South University (CSU)-the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment of Indonesia (CMMAI) Joint International Metallurgical Engineering Master Training Program (hereinafter referred to as "opening ceremony") was held at Central South University. Prof. Guo Xueyi, Vice President of Central South University, Prof. Cheng Qiongwen, Secretary of the Party Committee and Prof. Min Xiaobo, Dean of the School of Metallurgy and Environment of Central South University, Dr. Zhang Kun, Deputy General Manager of GEM, attended the opening ceremony. Mr Firdausi Manti, Director General of the Coordinating Ministry for Maritime Affairs and Investment of Indonesia, and Mr Yudi Saptono, Deputy Director General of the Ministry of Transportation and Industry, were present at the opening ceremony by via online video. A total of 28 new students also participated in the ceremony and opened a new chapter in their lives.

As a major programme of technological and cultural exchanges between China and Indonesia, the GEM-CSU-CMMAI Joint International Metallurgical Engineering Master Training Program (hereinafter referred to as the "Joint Training Program") which has continuously supplied high-level talents for the metallurgical industry and new energy industry in Indonesia. This is in line with the development history of China and Indonesia, which jointly promote the development of new energy and green development. The Joint Training Program has also rewritten the history of Sino-Indonesian scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation, and has been highly recognized by the Indonesian government.

On 14 October 2019, the first batch of the Joint Training Program opened at Central South University, 22 Indonesian students successfully overcame difficulties during COVID-19 and completed their studies on schedule in three years. Most of the students chose to join QMB Park and become key management and production personnel. The effectiveness of the Joint Training Program has been recognised by the Indonesian government.

On 18 October 2022, the second batch of the Joint Training Program successfully conducted. 30 Indonesian students have completed their professional courses at CSU. Currently, these students are undergoing a three-month Chinese language crash course at GEM in order to have ability to speak in Chinese and master China's advanced metallurgy and new energy materials knowledge.

The year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the "Belt and Road" Initiative, and the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping's visit to GEM, as well as the first anniversary of the “Eight Actions for China to Support High-Quality Belt and Road Cooperation” proposed by President Xi Jinping. At this important historical moment, GEM not only promoted the registration of the third batch of the Joint Training Program, but also signed the fourth international joint training agreement for the Master of Metallurgical Engineering and Materials Science with CSU and CMMAI, and signed the first China-Indonesia joint laboratory as well as university scholarship agreement with Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB). It aims to deeply promote Sino-Indonesian scientific, technological and cultural cooperation, and actively implement President Xi Jinping's "Eight Actions for China to Support High-Quality Belt and Road Cooperation".

At the opening ceremony, Prof Guo Xueyi, Vice President of CSU, delivered a warm welcome to the 28 new students who had travelled a long way to CSU, and reviewing a series of initiatives and achievements of the tripartite joint efforts to develop talents between GEM-CMMAI-CSU. He said that CSU will continue to work closely with the Indonesian government and GEM to nurture the students well. He also hoped that the students would give their best and make good use of their time, so that they could contribute to promoting Indonesia's economic and social development, and could become a bridge of friendship and cooperation between China and Indonesia.

Dr. Zhang Kun, Deputy General Manager of GEM, said that GEM will carry forward the investment concept of "Integrated investment in industry, technology and culture, and grow together with Indonesia", and not only build a high-tech nickel resource industrial park with "Technology+Intellegience+Green" in Indonesia, but also the first world-class Laterite Nickel Ore Hydrometallurgy and New Energy Materials Engineering Technology Research Center, and the first world-class nickel industry museum in Indonesia. On 6 January, GEM signed a "Memorandum of Understanding on Joint Construction of China-Indonesia Research Laboratory for New Energy Materials and Metallurgical Engineering Technology" with ITB and CSU, This is the first joint laboratory in the history of Chinese universities, Chinese enterprises and Indonesian universities, which creates a new history in Sino-Indonesian scientific and technological cooperation. At the same time, launched Indonesia's "Hundreds and Tens of Thousands" talent development plan, that is, the three parties agreed in the next five years to train "One hundred engineering doctorates, One thousand engineering masters, and Ten thousand engineering personnel", to provide high-level talent support for Indonesia's economic and social development. Furthermore, Dr Zhang Kun also encouraged the new students of the third batch of the Joint Training Program to use their professional knowledge to promote the transformation and development of Indonesia's nickel resources into new energy, as well as to become ambassadors of scientific and technological and cultural exchanges between China and Indonesia. He also encouraged the students to become first-class metallurgical scientists and new energy material scientists in Indonesia or possibly even in the world, thereby contributing to the development of the world's new energy industry!

At the opening ceremony, Prof. Cheng Qiongwen, Secretary of the Party Committee and Prof. Min Xiaobo, Dean of the Faculty of Metallurgy and Environment of Central South University, as well as Mr Yudi Saptono, Deputy of Maritime Industry and Transport of Indonesia, delivered speeches respectively. They reviewed the situation of the first two Joint Training Program, affirmed the great achievements of this training model, and hoped that the new students of the third batch of the Joint Training Program could become the pillar of consensus of the two countries as well as promote cultural, scientific and technological exchanges between Indonesia and China; they also hoped that GEM, CSU and CMMAI could further deepen cooperation, cultivate more talents in the fields of metallurgy and new energy, create a model of “Belt and Road Initiative” cooperation in universities, and jointly promote the cooperation between Indonesia and China to achieve greater development in various fields.

Afterwards, Peng Xuezhen (Pongajow Viola Dheena), an outstanding student representative of the second batch of the Joint Training Program, delivered a warm welcome to the newly registered students and expressed her gratitude to GEM, CSU and CSMMAI for their generous support and training.

Nyoman Ari Bhaskara, a representative of the third batch of the Joint Training Program, said that he will strive to become one of the many outstanding young people leading the development of science and technology in Indonesia, turning his academic dreams into real contributions, taking part in promoting Sino-Indonesian cultural, scientific and technological exchanges, and contributing to the development of Indonesia's metallurgical and new energy industries.

After the ceremony, all students, lecturers, and invited guests had taken a group photo.

Prof. Guo Xueyi, Vice President of CSU (front row from right 6), Prof. Cheng Qiongwen, Secretary of the Party Committee of the Faculty of Metallurgy and Environment of CSU (front row from right 7), Professor Min Xiaobo, Dean of the Faculty of Metallurgy and Environment of CSU (front row from right 4), and Dr. Zhang Kun, Vice President of GEM (front row from right 5), with 28 new students in the third GEM-CSU-CMMAI Joint International Metallurgical Engineering Master Training Program.

Opening Ceromony Scenery

Prof Guo Xueyi, Vice President of CSU, delivered a speech

Dr Zhang Kun, Deputy General Manager of GEM, delivered a speech  

Peng Xuezhen (Pongajow Viola Dheena), the outstanding student representative of the second batch of the Joint Training Program, delivered a speech

Bai Kerui (Nyoman Ari Bhaskara), a representative of the third batch of the Joint Training Program, delivered a speech