UM joins other universities and institutes in China and Portuguese-speaking countries to build ocean research alliance
澳大與中國及葡語國家高校機構建海洋研究聯盟

The inauguration ceremony of the China-Portuguese Speaking Countries Ocean Research Alliance initiated by the University of Macau (UM) and the first meeting of the alliance’s executive council was held today (9 September) online. Over 70 representatives of member universities and institutes of the alliance in China and Portuguese-speaking countries joined the ceremony. The alliance aims to bring together the research strengths and resources of its members in the field of ocean science and promote exchange and cooperation in related fields between China and Portuguese-speaking countries.

Currently, 19 influential universities and research institutes in the field of ocean science in China, Portugal, Brazil, Angola, and Mozambique have joined the alliance, through which they will deepen cooperation in areas such as technological innovation and talent development.

Those who delivered speeches at the ceremony include Yonghua Song, rector of UM; Xu Jie, deputy director-general of the Office of Hong Kong, Macao and Taiwan Affairs of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China; Wang Antao, head of the Third Division of International Cooperation of the Department of International Cooperation of the Ministry of Natural Resources of China; João Nuno Calvão da Silva, president of the Association of Portuguese Language Universities (AULP); Che Weng Keong, head of the Department of Technology of the Economic and Technological Development Bureau of Macao SAR; and José Victor-Santos, president of the Laboratory for Robotics and Engineering Systems (LARSyS), Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon. Huang Shengbiao, deputy head of the Economic Affairs Department of the Liaison Office of the Central People’s Government in the Macao SAR, and Ip Kuai Lam, member of the Administrative Committee of the Science and Technology Development Fund of Macao, were present at the ceremony.

In his remarks, Rector Song said that UM leveraged the role of Macao SAR as a bridge between China and Portuguese-speaking countries in promoting the establishment of the alliance to build a community with a shared future for mankind in the ocean field. In the future, the alliance will devote itself to enhancing cooperation among universities and institutes in China and Portuguese-speaking countries in the field of ocean science. Members of the alliance will also deepen cooperation in areas such as resource sharing, scientific research, talent development, innovation, and community service.

After the ceremony, UM Vice Rector Rui Martins kicked off the first China and Portuguese-speaking Countries Ocean Research and Education Symposium. A number of well-known experts from China and Portuguese-speaking countries gave keynote speeches during the event. They include Chen Dake, director of Southern Marine Science and Engineering Guangdong Laboratory (Zhuhai); José Victor-Santos, president of Laboratory for Robotics and Engineering Systems (LARSyS), Instituto Superior Técnico, University of Lisbon; Dai Minhan, chair professor in the College of Ocean and Earth Sciences, Xiamen University; Ettore Apolónio de Barros, professor in the Polytechnic School of the University of São Paulo; and Cai Wenju, chief research scientist of the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO) Oceans & Atmosphere. The event attracted participants from nearly 20 universities and research institutes in China and Portuguese-speaking countries who engaged in discussions on ocean science and relation topics.

由澳門大學倡議成立的中國與葡語國家海洋研究聯盟今（9）日於線上舉行成立儀式暨首屆理事會會議，逾70名來自中國與葡語國家的精英高校及機構成員參與見證。聯盟將匯聚各成員於海洋科學領域的科研實力及資源優勢，促進中國與葡語國家在相關領域的研究交流與合作。

目前有19所來自中國、葡萄牙、巴西、安哥拉和莫桑比克在海洋研究領域最具影響力的高校及科研機構加入聯盟，將通過聯盟拓深各方在科技創新、人才培養等方面的合作。

儀式上，澳大校長宋永華、國家科學技術部港澳台辦公室副主任徐捷、國家自然資源部國際合作司國際合作三處處長王安濤、葡萄牙語大學聯會主席João Nuno Calvão da Silva、澳門經濟及科技發展局科技廳廳長謝永強及葡萄牙里斯本大學高等技術學院LARSyS主席José Santos-Victor先後致辭。澳門中聯辦經濟部副部長黃聖彪及澳門科學技術發展基金行政委員會委員葉桂林亦參與見證。

宋永華表示，澳大推動創建中國與葡語國家海洋研究聯盟，充分發揮澳門特區作為中國與葡語國家之間的橋樑作用，積極參與構建 “海洋命運共同體”。未來聯盟將致力提升中國與葡語國家高校及機構在海洋研究領域的合作水平，並在資源共享、科研合作、人才培養、協同創新、社會服務等多方面展開深入合作。

儀式後，澳大副校長馬許願為第一屆中國與葡語國家海洋科教研討會拉開序幕。研討會於線上舉行，多位遠負盛名的中國及葡語國家專家包括中國南方海洋科學與工程廣東省實驗室（珠海）主任陳大可、葡萄牙里斯本大學高等技術學院LARSyS 主席José Santos-Victor、廈門大學海洋與地球學院講座教授戴民漢、巴西聖保羅大學理工學院教授Ettore Apolónio de Barros及澳大利亞聯邦科工組織（CSIRO）海洋與大氣研究所首席科學家蔡文炬擔任主講嘉賓，各方就海洋科學研究相關議題展開討論。會議吸引近20所中國及葡語國家的大學及研究所參與。