On March 30, a delegation led by Mr. Ioannis Konstantatos, Mayor of Elliniko, Greece visited Shanghai Maritime University, accompanying by Ms. Wang Xiaoxia, Executive Vice President of Shanghai Academy. The delegation was received by Mr. Song Baoru, Chairman of the Shanghai Maritime University Council, and Mr. Chu Beiping, President of Shanghai Maritime University.
Song Baoru expressed his gratitude and warm welcome to the delegation from the Municipality of Elliniko. He pointed out that both China and Greece have long and glorious maritime histories, and both are important sources of global maritime civilization. Maritime culture is the bridge and bond connecting the two countries. In recent years, SMU has engaged in extensive and in-depth cooperation with Greek universities such as University of the Aegean, Business College of Athens, as well as enterprises like the Costamare Shipping Co. These collaborations have provided strong talent support, intellectual backing and knowledge services for the development of national shipping, port, logistics, and other industries, and have also contributed to the Belt and Road Initiative. He expressed hope that both parties can achieve more results in maritime cultural research, high-level shipping talent training, and enterprise internships, thus contributing to the development of Sino-Greek maritime cooperation.
Chu Beiping provided a detailed introduction to the university’s development history, recent advancements and disciplinary advantages. He pointed out that SMU focuses on “Shipping, Logistics, and Ocean”, concentrating on “intelligence, green, and safety” in talent cultivation and scientific research. In particular, the university has continuously provided key technical support in areas such as improving ship energy efficiency, researching green ship fuels, applying blockchain technology in shipping, innovating multimodal transport modes, developing intelligent navigation technologies, shipping planning and risk assessment and innovating maritime arbitration rules and systems. The university looks forward to extensive cooperation with Greece to jointly cultivate professionals in the fields of shipping, ports and logistics and to promote high-quality development of global maritime education.
Ioannis Konstantatos thanked the university for its warm reception. He noted that despite the vast distance between Greece and China, the sea has closely connected the two countries. He emphasized that the Municipality of Elliniko and Shanghai Maritime University could leverage their respective advantages, utilizing platforms like maritime cultural exchanges, the Chinese School of Classical Studies at Athens, and the Costamare Shipping Co. to build a bridge of communication and cooperation and jointly promote the sustainable development of the maritime industries of both countries.
Both sides held in-depth discussions on maritime history and cultural exchange, deepening educational cooperation, talent training and advancing joint scientific research and innovation.
After the meeting, the delegation visited Dishui Cloud Hall and Phase IV of Yangshan Port.
The Deputy Mayor of Education, Deputy Mayor of People with Disabilities and Elderly People, Deputy Mayor of Culture, Head of Kindergartens, Head of Urban Planning, and Head of Mayor's Office of the Municipality of Elliniko, Greece as well as the heads of the Secretariat, Research Division, Planning and Cooperation Division of Shanghai Academy, and relevant officials from Chairman Office, President Office, International Office, School of Economics and Management, School of Law and School of Marxism at Shanghai Maritime University participated in the meeting.
