The 2024 China-ASEAN Engineers Forum, themed "Engineering Innovation and Green Development for Mutual Benefit," was held in Beijing from Oct 14-16. Engineering representatives from China and ASEAN emphasized the importance of establishing a long-term dialogue and communication mechanism between engineering organizations in China and ASEAN members to enhance the professional development and value recognition of engineers.

Co-established by the Chinese Society of Engineers (CSE) and the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations (AFEO), the forum has successfully hosted two sessions and has emerged as a vital platform for institutional dialogue and collaboration between the Chinese engineering community and its ASEAN counterparts. Participants hailed the significance of the forum in fostering deeper cooperation in engineering technology between China and ASEAN, which showcased the latest achievements and trends from both regions and promoted technical exchanges and collaboration among engineers.

The 2024 China-ASEAN Engineers Forum is successfully concluded in Beijing on Oct 16, 2024.

Photo credit: The 2024 China-ASEAN Engineers Forum

As part of the 2024 World Science and Technology Development Forum, the event saw the CSE and ASEAN engineering organizations expressing their hope to expand and optimize the mutual recognition of engineering qualifications, thereby promoting the mobility of engineers.

The forum unveiled the "Forum Initiative on Boosting Engineering Capacity Building," underscoring the imperative for engineers to propose innovative solutions in pursuit of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals. The initiative is geared towards spurring technological innovation for the benefit of society and promoting communication and mutual assistance among engineers, empowering young engineers to become key contributors to sustainable development.

Furthermore, the CSE signed a memorandum of understanding with the Philippine Technological Council (PTC) during the forum, vowing to further enhance bilateral exchanges and cooperation.

ASEAN members, situated at the crossroads of the land and maritime routes of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), are a priority area for high-quality collaboration in this initiative. In recent years, the CSE has actively implemented the directives of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST) to promote international mutual recognition of engineering capabilities with BRI partner countries. Leveraging the forum platform, it has focused on strengthening bilateral exchanges with engineering organizations in ASEAN, signing mutual recognition agreements or memorandums of understanding with engineering societies in Myanmar, Singapore, Malaysia, and Indonesia.

As a result, 47 engineering members of the CSE have achieved the title of the Chartered Engineer/Senior Chartered Engineer of the Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES) or acquired the Registered Limited Professional Engineer Certificate of the Myanmar Engineering Council (MEngC) through mutual recognition, contributing to the high-quality development of the BRI.

Luo Hui, Executive Secretary and Director General for International Affairs of the CAST and Vice Chairperson and Joint Secretary-General of the CSE, delivered a keynote address at the opening ceremony. She highlighted the successful implementation of landmark cooperative projects such as the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway in Indonesia, the China-Thailand Railway, and Malaysia's East Coast Rail Link, which serve as models for global South-South cooperation.

"Many member units and engineers within the CSE are actively involved in these projects. We are committed to leveraging the engineering and technology community's strengths to enhance cooperation between China and ASEAN," Luo stated.

She emphasized that mutual understanding and trust among China and ASEAN countries are being strengthened through respect, with a vision of building a closer China-ASEAN community for a shared future. This includes harnessing engineering expertise to benefit the public, fostering continuous exchanges and collaboration in engineering, promoting technological innovation, and contributing to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

Luo also announced that the CSE will offer continuing professional development courses to engineering organizations in ASEAN. Over the next five years, the CSE is committed to hosting at least 100 young engineers from ASEAN countries annually, providing them with training sessions and study trips in China.

"We aim to develop new competency standards for engineers that align with China and ASEAN requirements. By integrating the latest innovations in engineering technology, we seek to foster a more collaborative China-ASEAN engineering community," she added.

Engineers from ASEAN discuss at the 2024 China-ASEAN Engineers Forum concluded in Beijing on Oct 16.

Photo credit: The 2024 China-ASEAN Engineers Forum

The representatives present focused on green development and sustainable innovative solutions. Jeffrey Choong Luin Chiang, Chairman of the ASEAN Federation of Engineering Organizations (AFEO) and President of the Institution of Engineers Malaysia (IEM), noted that engineering can drive innovative solutions, particularly in green development, which is essential for sustainable progress. He anticipates further innovative solutions emerging from the collaboration between Chinese and ASEAN engineering organizations.

Shu Yinbiao, President of the Chinese Society for Electrical Engineering (CSEE) and an academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, and the 36th President of the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) shared insights on "Green Low Carbon Transition and Innovation Development in China's Power Sector," sparking significant discussion among ASEAN power industry representatives. Chuah Hean Teik, Chairman of the Standing Committee on Engineering Education, Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and the Pacific (FEIAP), addressed the challenges of sustainable development, including poverty and wealth inequality. He proposed engineering solutions that prioritize public health, safety, and environmental considerations.

Fang Xi, Vice President and Director of the Integrated Technology Delivery Dept. of ZTE, presented a case study on how Digital Nebula technology can facilitate digital transformation for emission reduction, demonstrating the efficiency gains of fully connected 5G factories. He called for collaboration among government, universities, enterprises, and consumers.

Zhong Ping, Director of the Green and Low-Carbon Development Research Center of China Communications Construction Company Limited, discussed their efforts in developing evaluation accounting methods for the entire lifecycle of highways, including portable carbon emission monitoring systems.

Ir. Habibie Razak, Executive Director of the Institution of Engineers Indonesia (PII), May Rose Imperial, Chair of the Engineering Accreditation Commission of the Philippine Technological Council (PTC), and Engr. Aung Thet Paing, Joint Secretary General of the Federation of Myanmar Engineering Societies (Fed. MES), shared the opportunities and challenges in their countries regarding infrastructure development and energy landscapes, advocating for collaborative wisdom and solutions.

During the discussion, representatives from Chinese and ASEAN engineering organizations engaged in vibrant conversations about how globalization transcends national borders in engineering, making international cooperation vital for technological advancement.

Zhang Hongping, General Manager of Technology Innovation and Digitalization Department, China Railway Construction Corporation (International) Limited, emphasized the need for global integration of knowledge and skills in infrastructure, environmental protection, and information technology. He noted that international cooperation allows engineers to share best practices and tackle common challenges while drawing inspiration from diverse cultural backgrounds.

However, Zhang acknowledged the challenges of international engineering cooperation, such as language barriers and differing technical standards, which can hinder collaboration. He stressed the importance of establishing effective communication mechanisms and interconnected technical standards.

After the forum, Engr. Federico A. Monsada, President of Philippine Federation of Professional Associations (PFPA), expressed his appreciation for the event. "My first experience with China was in the manufacturing sector, where I sourced materials from companies like Sugar and Baosteel. I was unaware of China's advancements in science and technology at that time.

The China-ASEAN Engineers Forum offers a platform for cooperation that can significantly benefit humanity by ensuring engineering serves a positive purpose. Engineering can either support or hinder sustainable development, and I believe China is well-positioned to lead in this area, especially given the large population of around two billion in ASEAN and China. With its technological and scientific advancements, China is ideally suited to drive engineering initiatives that enhance societal well-being."

Source: VOC