China Merchants C-Blue Training Program Concludes at Emotional Closing Ceremony

On November 28, the closing ceremony for the fall edition of the China Merchants C-Blue Voyage Training Program was held at the China Merchants Port Plaza in ShenZhen. 23 port- and shipping-industry elites from 11 countries across 4 continents completed their training and successfully graduated.

Huang Yi, Deputy Secretary-General of the China Merchants Foundation (“CMF”), Xu Hongbo, Director of the Social Cooperation and Alumni office at Wuhan University of Technology, Huang Chuanjing, Deputy General Manager of China Merchants Port Group Co., Ltd. (“CMPG”), Sun Xiaowen, Chairman of the Administration Committee at the School of Transportation of Wuhan University of Technology, and other honorable guests joined the 23 graduating C-Bluers at the closing ceremony.

This fall edition of C-Blue Voyage was funded by the CMF and co-hosted by CMPG, the Chinese Transport Management Institute and Wuhan University of Technology. Having originated in 2016, the program provides a series of high-end port- and shipping-related training courses for promising talents in the industry from countries and regions along the “Belt and Road”; it stands as a testament to China Merchants’ fulfillment of corporate social responsibility.

In her speech at the closing ceremony, CMF deputy secretary-general Huang Yi emphasized the foundation’s strategic commitment to “investing in changemakers.” “We believe that diversity of thought indeed are essential to human progress,” she said. “We believe that being together we can solve great challenges and change the world into a better place.”

In the past three weeks, the C-Bluers have not only systematically attended theoretical courses related to ports and shipping, but also traveled to Yangluo Port, the Three Gorges Dam, and Shekou Container Terminal for field visits. In addition, a variety of Chinese cultural courses such as Chinese Language and Chinese tea art were also involved. The trainees admitted that their trip not only facilitated their professionalism, but also broadened their horizons by offering them deep insights into the driving forces behind China’s economic, social and cultural development.

Speaking at the event, CMPG deputy general manager Huang Chuanjing expressed his sincere gratitude to the parties involved in the training program, as well as his hope that it would serve as a bridge between China and other countries. Mr. Huang said that CMPG’s corporate mission of “connect the world” will promote win-win progress hand-in-hand with its international partners. “It is my sincere hope that we will join forces as friends, industry professionals and international allies to realize the dream of true prosperity for those around us through win-win cooperation.”

Huang Yi, Deputy Secretary-General of the CMF

Huang Chuanjing, Deputy General Manager of CMPG