To promote scientific and technological cooperation and cultural exchanges with countries along the Belt and Road and expand the international cooperation network, Yuan HU, a professor from the State Key Laboratory of Fire Science (SKLFS) of the University of Science and Technology of China (USTC), led a delegation to visit Kazakhstan in August 2024, visited three universities and three research institutions, and conducted in-depth discussions on strengthening scientific and technological cooperation and exchanges between the SKLFS and Kazakhstan.

The delegation visited Zhubanov Aktobe Regional State University, Almaty University of Power Engineering and Telecommunications, Institute of Combustion Problems in Kazakhstan, to promote exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and Kazakh universities and institutions in various fields, such as scientific research, talent cultivation, and social services. During the visit, Prof. Yuan HU and his delegation also paid a special visit to Counsellor Yu GUO of the Chinese Consulate General in Aktobe, Kazakhstan, as well as Sinopec Kazakhstan Branch and Sinopec-Kazakh Oil Joint Venture.

On the morning of August 12th, the delegation, including Yuan HU (a professor from the SKLFS of the USTC), Jixin ZHU (a professor from the SKLFS of the USTC), Xin WANG (an associate professor from the SKLFS of the USTC), Zhengzhou WANG (a professor from Tongji University), and Bin FEI (a professor from Hong Kong Polytechnic University), first visited Zhubanov Aktobe Regional State University. This university is the fourth ranked comprehensive university in Kazakhstan and the largest university in the western region of Kazakhstan. Rakhym BEKNAZAROV, vice president of Zhubanov Aktobe regional state university, warmly welcomed the delegation from the SKLFS of USTC, and introduced the achievements of Zhubanov Aktobe regional state university in the fields of school running philosophy, scientific and technological innovation and international cooperation. Prof. Yuan HU introduced the development history, scientific and technological innovation and student training of the USTC and introduced the development, talent training and international cooperation of the SKLFS in the discipline of safety science and engineering in recent years. Both sides had in-depth discussions on collaborative research, academic visits, and bilateral academic conferences and reached multiple consensuses. In addition, members of the delegation were invited to give a series of 5 scientific and technological lectures on the latest research progress of safety engineering materials, which were warmly welcomed by the teachers and students of Zhubanov Aktobe regional state university.

On the morning of August 13th, the delegation visited the Confucius Institute at Zhubanov Aktobe regional state university. Jie HOU, the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute, received the delegation and introduced the achievements of the Confucius Institute in promoting cultural exchanges between China and Kazakhstan, as well as promoting Chinese language education. The delegation highly appreciated the achievements of the Confucius Institute and wished the teachers and students of the Confucius Institute to make greater contributions to promoting exchanges and cooperation and enhancing friendship between the two countries.

On the morning of August 27th, the delegation visited Almaty University of Electric Power Engineering and Telecommunications. This university is a top tier institution in the field of energy and aerospace in Kazakhstan. Vice president, Aibek ZHUPANKHAN, introduced the leading advantages and innovative achievements of Almaty University of Electric Power Engineering and Telecommunications in disciplines such as energy, aerospace, and combustion, and expressed a strong willingness to cooperate with the SKLFS in scientific research. Prof. Yuan HU expressed the hope that both sides can strengthen cooperation in areas such as project collaboration and personnel visits and jointly promote the international cooperation process between the two universities.

On the morning of August 28th, the delegation also visited the Institute of Combustion Problems. The general director, Rashid NADIROV, introduced the development history, research directions, and talent team of the institute to Prof. Yuan HU and his delegation, focusing on advantageous research directions, such as gas-phase flame structures, condensation fire extinguishing systems, plasma chemistry, nanomaterials, and nanotechnology. He also guided the delegation to visit relevant laboratories and research equipment. Prof. Yuan HU shared the research progress of the SKLFS in the fields of safety engineering materials, forest fires, building fires, industrial fires, etc. Both parties agree that they have consistent research directions in the fields of combustion, safety, materials, etc., and are expected to conduct close collaborative research in the future.

This visit is a continuation of the scientific and technological training course for developing countries along the Belt and Road in 2023. From December 3 to 16, 2023, with the support of the Bureau of International Cooperation of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, the SKLFS of the USTC successfully hosted the scientific and technological training course Design and Evaluation Methods of Fire Safety Engineering Materials. Since then, Prof. Amirbek BEKESHEV’s group from Zhubanov Aktobe Regional State University established close contact with Prof. Yuan HU’s group from the USTC. With the support of the Ministry of Education and Technology of Kazakhstan, Prof. Amirbek BEKESHEV invited Hu Yuan and his delegation to visit Zhubanov Aktobe Regional State University for exchange, promote the research results of fire safety engineering materials in China, and build a scientific and technological cooperation platform between the SKLFS and fire safety along the Belt and Road. The teams of China and Kazakhstan have laid a good foundation for establishing long-term cooperative relationships.