On the morning of December 11, the opening ceremony for the 4th batch of the "Indonesia-GEM-CSU" International Joint Master’s Program was grandly held both online and offline，taking place simultaneously at the Science and Education Building of Central South University (CSU) in China and in Indonesia. At CSU venue, 98 Indonesian master’s students from the Metallurgical Engineering, Transportation Engineering, and International Trade programs, along with 3 Indonesian doctoral students in Metallurgy, gathered together. The event was attended by Chinese representatives, including Professor Xu Kaihua, Chairman of GEM, and Professors Guo Xueyi and Li Zhihong, Vice Presidents of CSU. Indonesian representatives, including Firdausi Manti, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Economic and Industrial Infrastructure (KEIN), Yudi Saptono, General Director of KEIN, Dwi Larso, Minister of the Scholarship Division of the Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP), and Agam Bayu, Director of LPDP, joined remotely from Indonesia.

Professor Xu Kaihua, Chairman of GEM, and the leaders of CSU took a group photo with the students of the 4th batch of the Joint Master’s Program.

During the ceremony, Professor Xu Kaihua congratulated the 57 students in the Metallurgical Engineering class, 20 in the Transportation Engineering class, 21 in the International Trade class, and 3 doctoral students—101 Indonesian postgraduates in total—on beginning their studies at CSU. He emphasized that this achievement marks a historic milestone in China-Indonesia cooperation in cultivating high-level talent. He noted that apart from CSU, no other Chinese university has admitted such a large number of Indonesian postgraduate students in a single year. Professor Xu highlighted that the program has garnered attention and media coverage from Xinhua News Agency, reflecting recognition from the Chinese government. He expressed gratitude to the Indonesian government, LPDP, CSU leadership, and faculty, particularly the support from Minister Luhut of Indonesia and Professor Yi Hong, Secretary of the CSU Party Committee.

Professor Xu Kaihua's Speech at the Opening Ceremony of the 4th Batch of the Joint Master’s Program

Professor Guo Xueyi and Professor Li Zhihong, both Vice Presidents of CSU, also delivered speeches to warmly welcome the new students. Professor Guo noted that the "university-government-enterprise" model of international student training between CSU, the Indonesian government, and GEM has matured significantly. He expressed hope for the joint implementation of the "Hundred-Thousand-Ten Thousand" talent training program (100 engineering Ph.D.s, 1,000 engineering masters, and 10,000 technical talents), positioning the program as a model for "Belt and Road" educational cooperation and promoting broader collaboration between China and Indonesia. Vice President Li pledged that CSU would continue to provide exceptional educational resources and a vibrant academic environment for international students, fostering their growth and success. He also reaffirmed CSU’s commitment to exploring innovative approaches to address the challenges and opportunities of globalization.

Firdausi Manti, Indonesia's Deputy Minister of Economic and Industrial Infrastructure, and Dwi Larso, Minister of the Scholarship Division at LPDP, addressed the ceremony online from Jakarta. Firdausi encouraged students to cherish their time at CSU and contribute to Indonesia’s future development. Dwi urged students to learn advanced scientific and technological skills from China, explore its natural beauty, and immerse themselves in Chinese culture to better facilitate shared progress between the two nations.

During the event, representatives from the 4th batch of Indonesian students from the Metallurgical Engineering, Transportation Engineering, and International Trade classes, along with RIZKY WANALDI, an outstanding doctoral student from the 2019 cohort, delivered speeches. The students expressed their excitement at joining CSU, describing it as a significant milestone in their lives. They were inspired by the "Belt and Road" initiative's role in strengthening China-Indonesia ties and shared their aspirations for building a prosperous future through bilateral cooperation. Wan Qi encouraged his peers to actively learn Chinese, adopt a positive attitude toward their studies, and strive to become the pride of Indonesia, CSU, and their families.

Firdausi Manti, Deputy Minister of the Indonesian Ministry of Economic and Industrial Infrastructure Exchange Remotely with Indonesian Students

Dwi Larso, Minister of the Scholarship Division, Indonesian Endowment Fund for Education (LPDP), Exchange Remotely with Indonesian Students

Speech by LESTARI YUNITA SRI, Representative of the 4th Batch of Indonesian Joint Master’s Program Students

In the afternoon, Professor Xu Kaihua, Chairman of GEM, delivered the “First Lecture” for the 4th batch of Indonesian students. The lecture, titled "Study Together and Move Towards a Green Future," was conducted in English and included a warm interaction with the new students. Professor Xu provided an insightful overview of global trends in green development and the opportunities for Indonesia. He emphasized that the future world is green, and the era of new energy is advancing rapidly, representing a significant opportunity for Indonesia.

Professor Xu discussed the ambitious GDP growth target of 8% set by Indonesian President Prabowo, highlighting the potential for Indonesia to become the world’s fifth-largest economy by 2045. With ASEAN’s most advantageous resource endowment, Indonesia is well-positioned for this growth. GEM aims to support this ambition through its “Hundred-Thousand-Ten Thousand” Talent Training Plan, which will nurture the talent needed for Indonesia's rapid GDP growth. He noted that fields such as Metallurgical Engineering, Transportation Engineering, and International Trade will play crucial roles in Indonesia's electrification and green development, offering vast opportunities. Professor Xu encouraged students to plan their futures, set life goals, acquire skills, and contribute to Indonesia’s development, achieving personal success while serving as advocates for China-Indonesia collaboration and friendship.

Professor Xu Kaihua Delivers a Lecture on the Theme: "Study Together and Move Towards a Green Future"

Professor Xu also showcased three key projects by GEM in Indonesia:

    1.QMB New Energy Nickel Resource Project – GEM’s significant investment in Indonesia.

    2.Nickel Laterite Production for New Energy Materials – A project in collaboration with a locally-owned Indonesian enterprise.

    3.GEM-ITB-CSU Joint Research Laboratory in Bandung

GEM-ITB-CSU Joint Research Laboratory is an advanced facility for metallurgical technology and new energy materials, recognized as one of the world’s leading laboratories in its field. Over the past three months, this laboratory has welcomed 361 visitors from eight countries, effectively promoting GEM’s integration of “technology + culture” and its vision for green development.

Professor Xu also shared his two personal dreams for the future: to build GEM into a world-class green industrial park; to collaborate with Vale in establishing a world-leading, green, zero-carbon nickel industrial park in Indonesia, enhancing the green value and global competitiveness of Indonesia’s nickel resources.

Professor Xu Kaihua Shares Highlights of GEM’s Three Key Overseas Projects

During the interactive session, Professor Xu engaged closely with the students. representatives from the 4th batch of Indonesian students to share their study aspirations and life plans. They also enthusiastically asked Professor Xu questions about his journey in academia and entrepreneurship, economic cooperation between the two countries, and global policy trends. Professor Xu patiently answered their queries, creating a lively and enriching atmosphere. The students found the interaction highly rewarding.

Indonesian Students Ask Questions and Interact Warmly with Professor Xu Kaihua

The opening ceremony and lecture were also attended by Dr. Xu Pengyun, Assistant General Manager of GEM; Dr. Wang Jun, Deputy Director of GEM (Shenzhen) Super Green Technology Institute; and outstanding alumni of the China-Indonesia joint training program, including RIZKY WANALDI and TEGAR MUKTI AJI.