On November 23, 2023, the 2023 ASEAN-China Engineers Forum was held during the convening of the 41st Conference of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations (CAFEO 41) in Bali, Indonesia. The forum was jointly hosted by the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations (AFEO) and the Chinese Society of Engineers (CSE), and jointly organized by the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering (CSEE) and the Institution of Engineers Indonesia (PII). Under the theme of “Engineering Support for Sustainable Development”, the forum aimed to strengthen ASEAN-China cooperation in the field of engineering and promote sustainable development.
Leaders attending and addressing the forum included H.E. Mr. HE Junke, Executive Vice President and Chief Executive Secretary of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST), and Chairman of CSE, Ir. Mohd Khir bin Muhammad, Secretary General of AFEO, and Dr. Ir. Danis Sumadilaga, President of PII. More than 80 leaders and experts from CAST, CSE, and AEFO attended the forum, including Ir. Dr. Tan Yean Chin, Secretary General of the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and Pacific (FEIAP), Mr. LI Kunping, Director General of CAST Department of Organization and Personnel, Mr. SHEN Jinsheng, Director General of CAST Strategic Development Department, Mr. ZHENG Min, Deputy Consul General of Chinese Consulate-General in Denpasar, and Mr. RUAN Cao, Deputy Director General of CAST General Administration Department. The opening ceremony was presided over by David Chuah, Chairman of IET Malaysia. The keynote speech session was jointly presided over by LIN Mingshan, former Vice President of CSEE and Director of CSE International Cooperation Committee, and WU Yunxi, former Vice Chairman of CSE Engineering Competency Assessment Committee.
In his speech, H.E. Mr. HE Junke put forth three suggestions on strengthening exchanges and mutual learning between the Chinese engineering community and peers from ASEAN countries. First, continuously deepen cooperation and enhance mutual trust. The two sides shall deepen cooperation in science, technology and engineering and strengthen people-to-people ties with an open mindset, a strategic viewpoint, and an inclusive attitude for the purpose of building a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future. Second, promote the development of engineer capabilities and cross-regional mobility of engineers. The two sides shall collaborate in cultivating outstanding engineering and technical professionals, establishing an effective incentive mechanism for the growth of talents, and fostering a new pattern in which talents play a leading role in driving engineering and technology development. Third, enhance people’s well-being through engineering and technological innovation. In the efforts to promote the transformation and application of engineering and technological achievements, the two sides shall establish effective mechanisms and models to make engineering and technological achievements benefit the people and serve sustainable development. They shall also work to ensure the engineer dividends generate more livelihood benefits for the people, thus making greater contributions to achieving the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and building a community with a shared future for mankind.
The opening ceremony included a signing session for the memorandum of understanding (MoU) between CSE and PII. Ms. HE Wei, Deputy Director General of CAST Department of International Affairs and CSE Deputy Secretary General, and Dr. Ir. Danis Sumadilaga, President of PII, signed the MoU in the presence of all attendees.
In the keynote speech session, 7 experts from China, the Philippines, Malaysia and other countries delivered wonderful speeches.
Ir. Dr. Tan Yean Chin, Secretary General of FEIAP, introduced the vision and projects of FEIAP and stressed the crucial role of engineering in achieving SDGs. As he noted, each economy has different requirements for the engineering education accreditation system in aspects from relevancy to national construction to consistency with the optimal international standards, which is why the accreditation systems in different countries must be mutually inclusive and adaptable.
Mr. LIANG Richard, Group Vice President of ZTE Corporation and President Director of ZTE Indonesia, put forward suggestions on the cultivation of outstanding engineers for promoting ASEAN’s high-quality development based on the demands of ASEAN and industrial development, the principles of outstanding engineer training, and ZTE’s talent development situation.
Ir. Yau Chau Fong, Head Commissioner of ASEAN Engineering Register (AER), introduced AFEO and pointed out that AER is dedicated to promoting the mobility of engineers among ASEAN countries, the formulation and implementation of relevant policies, standards, and guidelines, and the establishment of effective collaborative relationships between partners within and outside the region.
Mr. GUO Xiaodan, Chief Representative of PowerChina in Indonesia, remarked that PowerChina, as a leading player in the industry, is committed to promoting the sustainable development of ASEAN by providing domestic and foreign customers with integrated and holistic solutions throughout the industry chain of new energy such as wind energy, solar energy, biomass energy, and ocean energy.
Prof. Ir. Dr. Tan Chee Fai, Chairman of AER AEI Manufacturing and member of the AER Executive Committee, introduced the ASEAN Engineering Standards Initiative proposed by AEI, as well as the formulation of electrical, fire safety, and other standards in ASEAN countries such as Malaysia, Myanmar, Thailand, and Singapore.
Mr. AN Chenguang, CSE assessor and Marketing Director of Beijing Huadian Yuntong Power Technology Co Ltd., elaborated on the qualities of outstanding engineers and the benefits of internationalization for the growth of young engineers based on his personal growth and working experience.
Engr. Dr. Fred Monsada, President of Philippine Technological Council (PTC), reviewed the development history of PTC and emphasized that its mission is to provide an enabling environment for fostering the growth of young engineers and female engineers, help and encourage more engineers to gain international recognition, and promote their mobility across the globe.
During the discussion session, four experts engaged in heated discussions on two topics, namely, “the impact of mechanization and intelligence in engineering construction on engineers”, and “how digital technology assists in building engineer competency”. They were Bernard Lim, President of IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers) Malaysia Section, former Chairman of IEM (Institution of Engineers, Malaysia) Penang Branch, member of AER Executive Committee, and co-founder, Vice President and Director of Appscard Group AS and Appscard Global Research & Innovation Center, Ir. Chin Lee Tuck, Vice President of the Institution of Surveyors, Engineers and Architects (PUJA) Brunei, Mr. LI Wenxing, Sales Director of ZTE Indonesia, and Mr. LENG Xiangbiao, Researcher at China Southern Power Grid Energy Development Research Institute Co., Ltd. The discussion session was chaired by Prof. Ir. Dr Tan Chee Fai.
The 2023 ASEAN-China Engineers Forum provided a valuable platform for engineers from both regions to conduct exchanges. By sharing experiences and knowledge, the participants not only gained a deeper understanding of the importance of engineering in supporting sustainable development, but also further promoted ASEAN-China cooperation in the field of engineering.
