On January 3rd, President ZHANG Dayu met with YAN Lijin, Chairman of China Silk Road Group Ltd. (CSRG), and his delegation at Xicheng Campus. Both sides discussed plans for cooperation agreed upon during the annual conference of the Belt and Road Architectural University International Consortium (BRAUIC) in Indonesia and Malaysia. The parties also explored matters related to jointly establishing the Beijing International Innovation Center for Architectural Heritage Protection and Development in the Belt and Road Region (hereinafter referred to as “Innovation Center”). Attendees included JIANG Jie, Executive Dean of the International Development Research Institute, and other relevant personnel.

President ZHANG Dayu expressed his heartfelt gratitude to CSRG for their ongoing support and assistance in the development of BUCEA and BRAUIC. He emphasized that both parties have maintained a close relationship and extensive collaboration. He hoped that in the future, both sides could further leverage their respective strengths, with a focus on the Innovation Center and International Joint Laboratory of Safety and Energy Conservation for Ancient Buildings approved by the Ministry of Education, to delve into areas such as exploring and sharing regional architectural cultural heritage resources, integrating architectural heritage with cultural tourism, and preserving architectural craftsmanship. The cooperation will deepen in talent development, collaborative research projects, transferring research achievements, and seeking major platform opportunities. Together, BUCEA and CSRG aspire to create a new paradigm for university-enterprise partnerships and make significant contributions to promoting cultural exchange, enhancing urban development, and advancing international cooperation in the field of architectural cultural heritage.

YAN Lijin acknowledged the strong cooperation foundation and achievements between both parties. He highlighted CSRG’s role as a comprehensive multinational group serving the needs of the Belt and Road Initiative. With a focus on international cooperation and digital infrastructure, CSRG aims to lead the development of the new digital platform for the digital Silk Road and contribute to global green and sustainable development. As one of the first enterprise members of BRAUIC and participating institutes of the Innovation Center, CSRG is committed to supporting the development of BRAUIC and the Innovation Center through coordinated efforts to improve organizational structure and institutional mechanisms. CSRG will collaborate with BUCEA in various areas, leveraging resources such as the Silk Road International Foundation and digital platforms for Silk Road cultural heritage, to serve cultural preservation along the Belt and Road and boost global civilization exchanges.