The University of Mandalay and Kunming-based Yunnan University held a series of preparatory meetings last month to establish a “joint laboratory” and capitalise on the Belt and Road Initiative. The meetings took place on January 8-12 in Kunming, the regional capital of China’s Yunnan Province.

“Joint laboratory” refers to joint research initiatives between China and another country. Chinese media reported last May that China’s Ministry of Science and Technology will support the creation of “joint laboratories” along Belt and Road countries to facilitate research and development. Examples include the China-ASEAN Centre for Joint Research and Promotion of Marine Aquaculture Technology, Egypt-China renewable energy joint laboratory, Cambodia-China food industry joint laboratory and Nepal-China geography joint research centre.

Yunnan University’s party secretary Yang Lin and Principal Lin Wenxun said that the institution will focus on establishing its position in Southwest China and seek to become an “education highland” of Southeast Asia, capitalising on Belt and Road-related programmes. They said that the Belt and Road “joint laboratory projects” presents a valuable opportunity to develop areas such as resources management, environmental studies, ecology and other related subjects. The collaboration will strengthen the education, technological development and human capital of the countries involved in the Belt and Road.

Cai Jianing, international cooperation division deputy director under China’s Ministry of Science and Technology, said that the joint R&D projects between Mandalay and Yunnan should focus on regional exchanges, human capital training, research work and supporting economic development.

U Soe Paing, Myanmar’s consul general in Kunming, said “joint laboratory” is beneficial to both China and Myanmar. The consul had submitted and recommended Yunnan University’s project proposals to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which is headed by State Counsellor Daw Aung San Suu Kyi. The effort is also supported by Huawei representative Zhang Chi, who said the multinational is willing to support collaborative efforts and further the Belt and Road development.

On January 9, Mandalay University’s schools of animal science, geology, geography, botany and chemistry had meetings with their counterparts in Yunnan University, exploring different collaborative initiatives, joint projects and academic exchanges.

Zhang Li, the vice-principal of Yunnan University, said that the two universities would set up a joint task force to implement the R&D collaboration and related projects.

Source: https://www.mmtimes.com/news/mandalay-yunnan-unis-gear-belt-and-road-rd-efforts.html