Chengdu University of Technology and Universidad Central del Ecuador Held an Online Signing Ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding

On December 9, 2021, the Chengdu University of Technology (CDUT) and Universidad Central del Ecuador (UCE), under the active coordination and promotion of CNPC Chuanqing Drilling Engineering Co., Ltd. (CCDC), CDUT's strategic partner, reached a Framework Cooperation Agreement and held an online signing ceremony of Memorandum of Understanding, to promote "the Belt and Road Initiative for Geoscience of CDUT", strengthen cooperation with countries along the Latin America region in oil and gas exploration and development, and enhance CDUT's international influence. The online meeting was presided over by Vice President Huang Qi. President Liu Qingyou and President Fernando delivered speeches respectively and signed the Memorandum of Understanding. On behalf of CNPC, General Manager Zhang Xiong of the CCDC Ecuador Branch delivered a speech to celebrate this cooperation.

Online signing ceremony

The meeting site of Chengdu University of Technology

The meeting site of Universidad Central del Ecuador

President Liu Qingyou and President Fernando SempérteguiOntaneda sign the agreement

In his speech, Liu Qingyou said that CDUT has a good foundation for cooperation with UCE because of its preponderant disciplines such as geology, energy, resource science, and environmental science. He believed that the two sides would continue to deepen exchanges and cooperation through academic research and educational activities, faculty and student exchanges, joint academic meetings and lectures, joint scientific research projects, and the construction of international courses. With the support of the Ecuador Branch of CCDC, the cooperation between the two universities will also strengthen the close relationship between overseas Chinese enterprises and local society. The international industry-university-research cooperation platform jointly built by the three parties will cultivate more international professionals for the two countries and solve the environmental and industrial development problems faced by the two countries. It is believed that the cooperation between the two universities will also create more opportunities for scientific research cooperation and educational exchanges for countries along "the Belt and Road" in Latin America.

President Liu Qingyou

Speech by Fernando, President of UCE

Fernando SempérteguiOntaneda said that he was delighted with the active networking and expansion of cooperation between the two universities and that the Memorandum contained a number of initiatives and plans to promote scientific and academic cooperation between the two sides. In the context of a global epidemic situation that remains bleak, this is both an opportunity and a challenge for both sides. The signing of the Memorandum gives students and researchers from UCE the opportunity to exchange and study at CDUT and to discuss the problems facing human society, promoting the progress of both universities and their societies. He believed that this cooperation was a unique development opportunity for UCE. Although the signing of the Memorandum is only the first step, he is confident that the cooperation between the two universities will be fruitful.

Zhang Xiong, General Manager of the Ecuador Branch of CCDC, delivers a speech

Gustavo Pinto Arteaga, Dean of FIGEMPA College, the largest college of UCE, said in his speech that in the context of COVID-19, CDUT and UCE are brave enough to explore, face the difficulties with unity, build consensus and cooperate with each other, which is conducive to the mutual benefits of both universities and the sustainable development of society. He Yongming, Vice President of the College of Energy of CDUT, spoke on behalf of the participating colleges. He appreciated that UCE has been enjoying a high reputation in the industry by training many talents in geology, petroleum, minerals, and environmental engineering. He hoped that the two universities and CCDC could strengthen talent training and scientific research cooperation in relevant fields in the future.

Located in the northwest of South America, the Republic of Ecuador is bordered by Colombia and Peru and the Pacific Ocean to the west. With rich natural resources and diverse history and culture, Ecuador is a member of OPEC and a significant country along "the Belt and Road" in Latin  America. The petroleum industry and eco-tourism are Ecuador 's two pillar industries. Ecuador regards China as its most important comprehensive strategic partner. On August 30 this year, President Xi Jinping talked with Ecuador 's President Lasso via the phone. President Xi Jinping stressed that Ecuador is a significant partner of China in the joint construction of "the Belt and Road", and the two sides have achieved fruitful cooperation in traditional fields such as infrastructure, energy, minerals, finance, etc. As the economy enters a new stage of development, China will become more open and dynamic, bringing new opportunities for Ecuador and other countries. China is willing to improve the level of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation between the two sides and cultivate new growth points such as health, digital, and green Silk Road to better benefit the people of both countries.

Since entering the Latin American market in 2001, CCDC has worked hard and invested a lot of capital and technical support. The company has developed several projects that have benefited the local community, contributing millions of dollars in tax revenue and creating thousands of jobs. The company has established a strategic partnership with UCE, the second-largest university in Ecuador . With a history of 401 years, UCE is located in Quito, the capital of Ecuador , with a complete range of disciplines. It has a high academic level in petroleum engineering, mining, geology, and environmental engineering, and has trained a large number of professionals and scientific researchers for Ecuador. Ecuador Branch of CCDC has jointly established a water treatment laboratory with UCE to carry out green scientific research cooperation in petroleum engineering.

Universidad Central del Ecuador

Supported by CCDC, the successful signing of the Memorandum of Understanding between CDUT and UCE kicks off the exchange and cooperation between the two sides is the first step for the universities and enterprises to jointly cultivate international talents to participate in the construction of countries along "the Belt and Road".

The ceremony was also attended by two Vice Presidents, the Director of the International Cooperation Office, the Dean of FIGEMPA College of UCE, and other relevant leaders and experts. Leaders from the Department of International Exchanges & Cooperation, Graduate School, College of Energy, College of Earth Sciences, College of Environment and Civil Engineering, College of Geophysics, and College of Ecology and Environment attended the signing ceremony. Ning Xiaojun, Deputy General Manager, and heads of relevant departments of the Ecuador Branch of CCDC were also invited to attend the online meeting.