Energy Education Alliance strengthens China-Central Asia cooperation

The Energy Education Alliance under the China-Central Asia Center for Educational Exchange and Cooperation was launched in Urumqi, Xinjiang Uygur autonomous region on Friday, marking a step forward in institutionalized cooperation between China and Central Asia in energy education and technological innovation.

Co-initiated by the China University of Petroleum-Beijing at Karamay and Karamay Vocational and Technical College, its 14 inaugural council members include universities, vocational schools and major energy enterprises from China and Central Asian countries, including Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Uzbekistan and Tajikistan.

The alliance charter was reviewed and adopted at the founding assembly on Friday, with the first council leadership team elected. Li Jun, president of China University of Petroleum-Beijing at Karamay, was appointed the alliance's first chairperson.

Li said the global energy industry is accelerating its shift toward green and intelligent development, and that building a cross-border, cross-sector educational collaboration platform has become a consensus among China and Central Asian countries. The alliance will advance joint talent cultivation, collaborative research on key energy technologies, deeper industry-education integration, school-enterprise cooperation, as well as diversified multilateral exchange mechanisms.

Saule Tlevlessova, vice-rector for internationalization at Kazakh-British Technical University, reviewed her university's long-standing ties with Chinese institutions and expressed hope to expand collaboration in areas such as faculty and student exchanges and joint academic projects.

During Friday's event, Sun Changbo, chief education inspector of the Xinjiang regional government and a member of the leading Party members group of the regional education department of Xinjiang, noted that the alliance's establishment is a key measure to implement the "China-Central Asia Spirit" and to empower industrial upgrading in China and Central Asia through higher education.

He added that the alliance will connect the education, talent, industry and innovation value chains to fuel the region's green transition, calling for it to remain open and inclusive, prioritize practical outcomes and ensure standardized operation.