BRITF at the Binzhou Seminar

The 2019 Qilu Trip for High-Level Foreign Experts

The participation of BRITF at the Binzhou Seminar was the highlight of the trip to Binzhou and was held on Saturday 30 November 2019 in the Binzhou Grand Hotel. See earlier entries about our trip.
Government leaders of Binzhou government opened the seminar and gave introductions to the city, also using a well-done video.

Keynote speeches by BRITF experts

Presentations:
– “Promoting Quality Tourism” by Gilbert Van Kerckhove
– “The advantages to resume production by UK pedigree pig genes” (Artificial Intelligence in agriculture)by William Spiers
– “Smart Binzhou, smart tech, smart expats” by David Feng
– “Industrial Development” by Vitaly Mankevich (Russia)

Roundtable forum 1: with participation of Sydney Parmenter
Roundtable forum 2: with participation of Maurice Eliam.

I received a very nice book about Sun Tzu, “The Art of War”, on … silk pages…

It is a pity that the city does not take full advantage of that famous historical figure. I understand they made some kind of a museum about him but is is a flop.

BRITF and UWEE in Binzhou

Foreign experts BRITF and UWEE in Binzhou

From 29 November to 1 December I headed a delegation of our foreign experts (BRITF-UWEE) to Binzhou (Shandong), to participate in a seminar, meet the heads of the Binzhou government and visit some key locations.
It was my second visit to Binzhou. In September 2018 I visited the Binzhou Polytechnic and I also stayed in the Binzhou Grand Hotel.
Our expert group: Sydney, William, David, Mary, Maurice and delegates of UWEE.

We were also joined by the Russian delegation I had received in Beijing in the morning of 29 November. There was also a lady delegate from Malaysia (Ms. Kanmani, University of Malaysia).
We stayed in the Binzhou Grand Hotel where also the seminar was held.
I was delighted to find in the hotel’s buffet Belgian endive!

About Binzhou

Website: http://www.binzhou.gov.cn/en/about/html/?257.html

Binzhou is a city located in the northern part of Shandong Province in China. It is two hours away by car from Shandong’s capital city Jinan. The city is located near the Yellow River and is  one of the most important transportation hubs in Northern China. The Yellow River Bridge in Binzhou is an important passageway that connects the province Jiangsu, Shandong, Beijing and Tianjin together.

Established in the Shang Dynasty (1600 to 1050 BCE), Binzhou has over 3000 years of history. It is the hometown of many significant figures in Chinese history, including Sun Tzu (544BC to 496BC), who is the author of the “The Art of War”, which has been translated into many languages as one of the best-selling books on military strategies. Today, Binzhou occupies an area of 9,600 sq. km and has a population of 3.8 million.

The main industries in Binzhou are textile, chemical engineering, metallurgical engineering, machinery manufacturing, food processing and new technologies.

Welcome

On the evening of 29 November we were officially welcomed by the Party Secretary, the mayor, the vice mayor and other leaders (see the list). Banquets on 29 and 30 November. Also present, Mr. Chen Kangfu of the Jiusan Society. The Russian delegation brought the heavy-drinking spirit. Our French delegate Maurice finished it all with a small piano concert.
See some pictures taken in the hotel and during the banquets (Binzhou Grand Hotel and Binzhou Zhonghai Hotel):

Overall it was a nice and friendly welcome. Police lined the streets to let our delegation pass…

BRITF visited Paris and Minsk

Going abroad

This year delegations of BRITF visited Paris and Minsk.

Paris in April and July 2019

I could not attend myself but Sun Bin took part. Our experts Jean Marsac and Martine Garreau from Paris joined, along with others.
See pictures of the 6 April and 18 July visits.

See the official statement for the 6 April 2019 visit: 190406Paris

Minsk, Belarus

The Ministry of Health of Belarus hosted the “One Belt and One Road International Medical Higher Education and Industry Development Forum” hosted by the Belarusian National Medical University. The French expert team led the group of European domestic medicines to gather in Minsk on 21 October 2019. Our experts Jean Marsac and Martine Garreau from Paris joined. Yan Fei from Beijing represented UWEE.

 

The forum defined three cooperation directions, through the signing of the cooperation and the relevant agreement by SDU-ZB Biomedical R&D Institute, Guangdong Pharmaceutical University, Jiangxi University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Lincoln University College, MAHSA University, Paris Descartes University, Paris Sorbonne, and Belarusian State Medical University, We will open joint education programs in the cooperative colleges and universities, joint development of pre-master degree and doctoral talents. Chinese TCM enterprises will set up TCM centers in various countries.

For the official announcement and more pictures: 191021UWEEMinsk

BRITF setup and experts

Setting up our team of experts

More here about the BRITF setup and experts (See here about BRITF), we had several meetings where experts were added to our team.
Dates were 4 January, 19 March and 11 September 2019.
The names mentioned are not the complete list as other Chinese and foreign experts have been appointed on several occasions, such as in Paris and other cities.

4 January 2019

Most of the meetings take place in the UWEE offices, near the beautiful Xishuku Cathedral.
See the program. Every expert made a speech to comment on his added value.
At the inauguration ceremony, Gilbert Van Kerckhove was elected as the rotating chairman, and Michael Graham, Harvey Dzodin, Mark Howard Levine, William Spiers, David Feng and Edwin Charles Maher (absent) were elected to the Standing Committee.
Mr. Wang Lishe of China International Talent Exchange Foundation thanked BRITF Office and UWEE for successfully hosting the event.
The original report in Chinese with a rough English translation: 190104 BRITFsetup
See pictures of the meeting

19 March 2019

In this meeting, again next to the cathedral, Renaat Morel, Sydney Parmenter, Danial Albrecht, and Faddy Fadel (Dean of the American Business School in Paris) received their appointment letters from Gilbert Van Kerckhove and Yan Fei.
See some pictures of the meeting:

11 September 2019

During the meeting Gilbert Van Kerckhove and Yan Fei handed over the certificates to the new experts of the team, (Ms.) Mary Ho, Danny Lingham, (Ms.) He Bingxin and François Bernard.
The team of experts consists of representatives from many countries such as Belgium, France, Germany, USA, UK, Singapore, Switzerland, New Zealand, Australia and other.
See here the pictures:

UWEE and Guangming Magazine

About Guangming Daily

The Guangming Daily (Guangming Ribao) is the official newspaper for China’s intellectuals who focus on science, education and culture. Launched in June 1949, the paper has its roots in a free-thinking and critically oriented tradition. It was originally the paper of the China Democratic League and in 1953 represented the eight minority ‘democratic’ parties in China.

In the 1980s, a period of flourishing intellectual debate, the Guangming Ribao became a mouthpiece for the interests of intellectuals, focusing editorials on their political status and working and living conditions. In 1994, the paper became a central Party organ under the direct supervision of the Central Party Propaganda Committee. In the early 2000s, the paper is still read widely in intellectual and academic circles, but has had some difficulty redefining its position in China’s new commercially oriented newspaper market. It relies heavily upon obligatory subscriptions from Party and state work units such as schools, universities, and publishing and cultural organizations.
(By Kevin Latham)

Guangming Online (English): http://en.gmw.cn/

Guangming Studying Abroad Magazine

The magazine, also referred to as Guangming Educator, Guangming Daily Young Journalist and other. It looks at topics related to studying abroad and related, including reporting on foreign universities. It is also involved in training young journalists, often in cooperation with local Chinese governments.

One of the issues of the magazine

Website Guangming Studying Abroad Magazine (Chinese only): http://liuxue.gmw.cn/

UWEE and Guangming Magazine sign agreement

Guangming Daily Young Journalist & Union of Western and Eastern Education Strategic Cooperation held a meeting on 14 October 2019 that also included the signing ceremony between the two parties. Were also present, several members of the Foreign Specialist team and others, including Sydney Parmenter, Mary Ho, Sun Bin, Gilbert Van Kerckhove, and Maurice.
See here the web report by UWEE in PDF, it also has the link to the original text:

191014 UWEE

The agreement covers cooperation to connect with universities worldwide.

New appointments

Recently the following specialists were appointed as members of the Foreign Expert Committee under SAFEA, China International Talent Exchange Foundation:

  • Fady Fadel, Ph.D. (Dean, The American Business School of Paris)
  • Renaat Morel (Morel’s Restaurant, Beijing)
  • Daniel Albrecht (lawyer)
  • Sydney Parmenter
  • Mary Ho