Summer 2018 C Blue Training Program Held Its Opening Ceremony in Shanghai
On 12 June 2018, the grand opening ceremony of the Summer 2018 China Merchants C Blue training program (“C Blue”), which is sponsored by China Merchants Charitable Foundation (“CMCF”) and organized by China Merchants Port Holdings Company Limited (“CMPort”) in conjunction with co-organizer Shanghai Maritime University, was held in Shanghai Maritime University. 25 trainees from 13 countries across Asia, Africa, Europe and South America attended to the ceremony and launched their one-month theoretical, cultural and practical on-site training in Shanghai, Beijing, Zhangzhou and Shenzhen. The charitable ambassador of CMCF Ms. Zhang Wenjuan, deputy general manager of CMPort Mr. Zhang Yi, and the president of Shanghai Maritime University Mr. Huang Youfang were invited to the ceremony and delivered speeches.
Zhang Wenjuan said, “Since the establishment of CMCF, we had conducted many different kind of public affairs activities to extend our footprint all over the world. We hope that everyone can enjoy the fruits of the progress of the times. C Blue is a signature program of China Merchants Group (“CMG”) participating in overseas public affairs. 2018 is the third year of the program, which has been highly recognized by the participating countries and has received positive reports and favorable comments from international media. This year, CMPort once again work with Shanghai Maritime University, with previous experiences and cooperation, I believe this event will be more fruitful.”
Zhang Yi said, “CMG is a national enterprise with hundred-year history. Since its establishment in 1872, it has been entrusted with the hope of revitalizing the national maritime industry. After a century of ups and downs, CMG has become a large-scale state-owned enterprise with high profitability and broad influence. At present, with the mission of “We Connect the World”, CMPort hopes to share its achievements and experiences in the maritime industry and work with more countries along the “Belt and Road” to train more talents. It is hoped that the improvement of communication on policies, exchange of facilities, trade flow, financing and people-to-people understanding advocated by the “Belt and Road” initiative will be deeply rooted among the people. ”
As the predecessor of Shanghai Maritime University, Wusong Merchant Marine School had been closely connected with CMG in terms of teaching, researching, human resource management and training since its establishment. The C Blue signifies further cooperation between both parties. Huang Youfang said, “Shanghai Maritime University, which is a training centre of shipping, port and logistic industries, has supplied a large number of excellent talents for the maritime industry throughout the country and Asia-Pacific region.” Huang is looking forward to hold hands with CMG and friends from C Blue to build up an international training model so as to link up with dreams of development of the countries along the “Belt and Road” initiative in the future.
On behalf of the C Blue trainees, Ms. Aparna MinoliTilakaratne from Sri Lanka, expressed her sincere appreciation to CMCF, CMPort and Shanghai Maritime University. Aparna said, “We will do our best to learn from China’s advanced and professional experiences, take the initiative to know more about Chinese culture as well as socio-economic progress, and to share what we have learnt with people in our home town in order to support local development.
Since 2016, the two C Blue programs have been successfully conducted and well-reputed among trainees, thereby attracting more industrial talents in overseas to join the program. As an active participant of “Belt and Road” initiative, CMPort plans to hold another C Blue in the second half of 2018, with the aim to engage more talented leaders globally.
The inauguration ceremony of CMPort-Shanghai Maritime University “Belt & Road International Talent Training Centre” was also staged at the opening ceremony of C Blue. CMPort and Shanghai Maritime University take this opportunity as a breakthrough to co-establish an international maritime talent training centre in response to the “Belt and Road” initiative and to strengthen the college-enterprise cooperation in depth by virtue of the mutually complementary advantages. Both sides are jointly dedicated to cultivate more intra-industry specialists in diversified forms for the countries along the “Belt and Road” and enhance further progress in the global maritime industry.
