A Delegation of Beijing Forestry University to Visit Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand to Consolidate and Expand the Flyway University Alliance

Author: Zeng Qing, Luo Yang

In order to give full play to the leading role of our school in the Flyway University Alliance, at the invitation of friendly universities, international organizations and research centers such as Massey University in New Zealand, the Chairman of University Council, Wang Hongyuan, led a delegation to visit Singapore, Malaysia and New Zealand, visited the International Bird Alliance Asia Headquarters Office, Putra International University College in Malaysia, and the Pukorokoro Miranda Shorebird Conservation Center in New Zealand and Massey University, to coordinate the start-up of the Green “Belt and Road” Flyway University Alliance.

On February 27, the delegation met with Vinayagan Dharmarajah, the regional director of BirdLife Asia, at the BirdLife Asia office in Singapore. After listening to the introduction of the work of BirdLife Asia office, Wang Hongyuan said that our school attaches great importance to cooperation with relevant international organizations. BirdLife has a good cooperation foundation with our school. It is the largest international partnership network in the field of nature conservation, with partners in 123 countries around the world, covering all continents. It is hoped that the two sides will further establish a long-term and stable cooperative relationship, jointly organize and mobilize more universities, research institutions, and international organizations to participate, expand the “circle of friends” for the development of nature conservation, and contribute more to the protection of birds and ecological environment in the region. Both parties made it clear that the next step is to sign a cooperation agreement to build a new partnership.

From March 1 to March 2, the delegation visited the Putra International University College in Malaysia and held discussions with the leadership team of the college and professors and experts in related fields. President Ding Cairong of the Putra International University College in Malaysia gave a detailed introduction to the college’s history, development direction, international cooperation, etc., and expressed his hope to join the Flyway University Alliance. Wang Hongyuan warmly welcomed and sincerely thanked the Putra International University College of Malaysia for its intention to join the alliance, and hoped that the school would play a good supporting role in the alliance in Malaysia, unite more professional colleges and scientific research institutions, and implement the alliance‘s concerted action plan. Professor Lei Guangchun, Chairman of the International Science and Education Alliance for the Flyway of Migratory Birds and Professor of the School of Ecology and Nature Conservation of our university, gave a detailed introduction to the alliance‘s mission, the responsibilities and obligations of joining the alliance, and the relevant considerations for the future development of the alliance.

After the meeting, Putra International University College formally signed the “Letter of Intent to Join the Alliance”.

On March 3, in Auckland, New Zealand, the delegation held a working meeting with the EAAFP Secretariat to discuss the development plans of the Flyway University Alliance and the EAAFP Science Department. Jennifer George, CEO of the EAAFP Secretariat, said that last year the two sides worked together to successfully hold the Global Ecological Governance (Nansen) Conference in Beijing, initiated the establishment of the Flyway University Alliance, and held a week-long international conference event, which attracted worldwide attention, was of great significance, and achieved remarkable results. She thanked our school for its strong support to the EAAFP Secretariat and hoped to further deepen cooperation. On behalf of the school and the Alliance Secretariat, Wang Hongyuan expressed gratitude and appreciation to the EAAFP Secretariat for its long-term support to our school and its contribution to the establishment of the Alliance, and expressed that he would work with the EAAFP Secretariat to run the Alliance well and give full play to the role of the Alliance as an international cooperation platform. The two sides also discussed the direction and tasks for the next stage of work and studied the key tasks in the initial stage of this year.

On March 4, the delegation attended the international conference commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Pukorokoro Miranda Naturalists’Trust at the Pukolokolo Miranda Shorebird Centre in New Zealand. Wang Hongyuan had in-depth exchanges with important guests who attended the conference, including New Zealand Governor-General Cindy Kiro, Chinese Ambassador to New Zealand Wang Xiaolong, and former New Zealand Ambassador to China Clare Fearnley. He introduced to them in detail the vivid practice of Xi Jinping’s ecological civilization thought in our school, briefly explained the purpose of our school’s leading the establishment of the Flyway University Alliance, and the intention of educational and scientific research cooperation in the protection of migratory birds and the construction of migratory corridors, which was welcomed by all parties.

On March 5, the delegation attended the Bar-tailed Godwit Conservation Seminar in Wanganui, New Zealand. Lei Guangchun gave a speech entitled “Protection and Restoration Strategies for the Migratory Bird Habitats in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea (World Natural Heritage Site) under the Background of Global Climate Change”, in which he elaborated on the practical exploration made by our school in the protection of the migratory bird habitats in the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea, as well as the main work carried out by Beijing Forestry University in the process of applying for the World Heritage status of the Yellow Sea and Bohai Sea, winning unanimous praise and warm welcome from the audience.

On March 6, at Massey University in New Zealand, Wang Hongyuan and President Ray Geor of Massey University signed the “Cooperation Protocol” on behalf of the two universities. The two sides will carry out more pragmatic cooperation in the exchange of teachers, student visits, scientific and technological innovation, and jointly respond to, cooperate, research and solve major ecological and environmental issues that concern the common destiny of mankind.

Ray Geor warmly welcomed the delegation and gave a detailed introduction to the development history, mission and academic disciplines of Massey University. He expressed his willingness to work with our university to promote the progress of the cooperation project as soon as possible. The two sides also visited the Wildlife Rescue Hospital of Massey University.

It is reported that the delegation’s visit has effectively enhanced the friendly relations between our school and universities, government organizations, social organizations and scientific research institutions in Southeast Asia and Oceania, fully exerted the function and role of our school as the secretariat of the Flyway University Alliance, expanded our school’s international “circle of friends” on the migratory bird flyway, and played an important role in consolidating and expanding the green “Belt and Road” Flyway University Alliance, strengthening organizational construction, and building a new type of international exchange and cooperation platform.

Relevant responsible persons from our school’s Party and Government Office, International Exchange and Cooperation Office, School of Ecology and Nature Conservation, and School of National Park attended the above meeting.

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