On October 26, Qian Weizhong, Chairperson of COSCO SHIPPING (Hong Kong), and Zhu Changyu, President of the company, led a delegation to visit Shanghai Maritime University (SMU). They held a meeting and exchanged views with Cao Rongrui, Party Secretary of SMU, and Chu Beiping, President of SMU, on deepening Shanghai-Hong Kong cooperation, research synergy, and talent cultivation.

Qian Weizhong stated that COSCO SHIPPING Group and Shanghai Maritime University share a deep-rooted foundation of cooperation, and the university has long supplied a large number of outstanding shipping talents to the group. He introduced the development status of COSCO SHIPPING (Hong Kong) and expressed hope that both sides will continue to deepen cooperation based on existing foundations. The company will strengthen school-enterprise synergistic education, focus on the green, low-carbon, and smart development of the shipping industry, step up joint research breakthroughs, and actively support the university in improving its high-end maritime talent training system, jointly providing talent support for the high-quality development of shipping in Shanghai and Hong Kong. 

Zhu Changyu noted that the company has extensive research needs in fields such as green shipping, new energy application, and shipping digitalisation. He expressed a willingness to carry out joint research with the university on key industry issues and promote the implementation and transformation of scientific research results within the enterprise. 

Cao Rongrui expressed gratitude to COSCO SHIPPING Group and COSCO SHIPPING (Hong Kong) for their long-term care and support for the university's development. He pointed out that the recent signing of a "Strategic Cooperation Memorandum" between Shanghai and Hong Kong to further promote high-quality synergistic development of shipping has injected new momentum into the collaborative development of shipping between the two regions. He looks forward to both sides fully leveraging the university's disciplines, talent, and think-tank advantages alongside the enterprise's industrial, platform, and market advantages to jointly serve the "Shanghai-Hong Kong Cooperation" national strategy. 

Chu Beiping stated that the university will make high-level maritime talent cultivation a priority, connect with Hong Kong universities to explore joint talent training models, and create a high-end maritime talent training system serving Shanghai and Hong Kong. Focusing on directions such as green, low-carbon, and smart shipping, the university will promote the deep integration of industry, academia, research, and application. It will also conduct joint research on high-end shipping services and international maritime rules to provide intellectual support for corporate decision-making. The university is willing to maintain smooth channels for Shanghai-Hong Kong linkage, actively meet new talent demands arising from shipping transformation, and contribute to the synergistic development of the two international shipping centres in Shanghai and Hong Kong. 

During the visit, Qian Weizhong, Zhu Changyu, and their delegation toured the University History Museum and the Trusted Data Space Laboratory for Transportation. 

Heads of SMU's Development Planning and Quality Management Office, Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs Office, Finance Department, School of Economics and Management, Merchant Marine College, College of Transport and Communications, and Law School, as well as heads of the Human Resources Division, Strategy Development Division, and Executive Division of COSCO SHIPPING (Hong Kong), attended the meeting.