The Jia Geng research vessel waits to set sail at the port. [Photo/en.xmu.edu.cn]

The 6th Maritime Silk Road talent development program of Xiamen University (XMU) set sail with a launch ceremony on July 24. From July 24 to Aug 6, nearly 40 XMU students and faculty members will board the Jia Geng research vessel for offshore scientific training.

This year, participants from XMU, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, National University of Malaysia, and other universities will go on three separate sea voyages aboard the vessel, involving practical exercises in studying plankton and benthic organisms and conducting surveys on applied marine physical parameters.

Wang Zhi, associate professor at XMU's College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, highlighted the program's focus on sophomores and juniors from diverse academic backgrounds. Under the guidance of instructors, students will experience the sampling process from shallow to deep seas, fostering essential skills for marine research.

In 2025, designated as the China-ASEAN year of humanistic exchanges and the 75th anniversary of China-Indonesia diplomatic relations, XMU students will conduct research exchanges at the University of Mataram in Indonesia during their visit to Indonesia. Students and faculty members from the University of Mataram will also visit Xiamen University Malaysia aboard the Jia Geng vessel for further exchange activities.

Since its inception in 2018, the program has successfully completed 13 voyages, with over 400 people from four countries and 17 universities participating. Over the years, the program has aimed to spread marine knowledge to ASEAN, promote maritime history and culture, and foster friendships on behalf of the Chinese people. It has become a hallmark of XMU's international outreach, extending its influence across countries participating in the Belt and Road Initiative.