Since September 2018, more than 30 students have been sent by Souphanouvong University to Shanghai Institute of Technology to study railway-related majors. At present, three classes of undergraduate students majoring in railway engineering have successfully graduated, and more than 10 Lao students are serving the operation and development of China-Laos railway. They are not only the first batch of localized railway senior technical talents serving the China-Laos railway, but also the seeds of railway engineer education in Laos.
On the occasion of the 70th anniversary celebration of SIT, let’s review the excellent stories of Lao students chronologically, showing the power of example.
December 2021
General Secretary Xi Jinping Received a Letter from Lao Students of SIT
On December 3, 2021, General Secretary Xi Jinping stressed at the opening ceremony of the China-Laos railway that he received a letter from Lao students who studied railway engineering in Shanghai a few days ago. “They all said that they would contribute their skills learned in China to the operation and development of the China-Laos Railway. I am very happy about this. The future of China-Laos friendship lies in the youth, and the foundation of interconnection lies in the heart to heart connection. The Chinese side is willing to cultivate more pillar talents for the path of China-Laos friendship.”
The letter to the General Secretary is from the first batch of Lao international students majoring in railway engineering at SIT.
They said in the letter: At the historic moment of the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC, the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Laos, and the countdown to the opening of the China-Laos railway, we are very excited and delighted to report to the General Secretary that all nine students have graduated successfully this year, and it is a great honor to join in serving the China-Laos railway, and we will soon become the first batch of engineering and technical personnel after the opening of the railway! Looking back on our studies in China over the past few years, we are delighted to find that we are both beneficiaries of the Lancang Mekong Cooperation and witnesses of the friendship between China and Laos. We are a very lucky generation of Lao youth. The knowledge we learned at SIT, especially the training method of the school's "ASciT", changed our destiny; Studying in Shanghai allowed us to catch up with the new era of China, catch up with the world's most advanced railway from China to Laos. Here, we received meticulous care and guidance, and set up the goal of being engineers who maintain the China-Laos railway as well as the China-Laos friendship bridge.
December 2021
Representatives of SIT were Invited to Attend the China (Shanghai) Laos Aid Project Young Volunteers Symposium
At the symposium, Chen Jing, President of the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Jing Ying, Vice President of the Shanghai People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Shangguan Jian, Secretary of the Shanghai Municipal Committee of the Communist Youth League, representatives of young volunteers and Yang Ye, Lao student from SIT, jointly drew the "China-Laos Railway Opening Map".
Li Dong, a Lao student from SIT, spoke at the symposium, saying that Lao students were very lucky to come to China to learn railway knowledge. He deeply reviewed his study in SIT and the school's efforts to train Lao students, and imagined the good wish to serve the China-Laos railway in the future and the ambition to be a Lao “Zhan Tianyou”. His speech was well received by the leaders at the symposium.
July 2023
Research Practice of "Exploration to China-Laos Railway"
In the summer vacation of 2023, six universities including Shanghai Institute of Technology, Lanzhou Jiaotong University and Souphanouvong University, jointly held a research practice " Exploration to China-Laos Railway ".
The 10-day research practice started from the zero kilometer mark of China-Laos Railway in Kunming Railway Station, China. The teachers and students took the Fuxing EMU to the Mohan comprehensive maintenance workshop of the China section of China-Laos Railway to launch research and learning activities, and then went to Nanpo Village, a natural village of Dai nationality in Mohan-Boten Cooperation Zone to carry out activities. Then they went through Mohan, Boten port to Laos, researched Boten special economic zone, went to Boten railway station to take the China-Laos railway train to Luang Prabang, and started the study trip.
Li Dong, one of the second batch of Lao students from SIT who participated in social practice during the construction and operation of the Yuxi-Mohan section of the China-Laos Railway for many times, shared his experiences with his friends from time to time on the way and popularize the knowledge of the China-Laos railway.
September 2023
Representative of Lao Students from SIT were Invited to Attend the National Day Reception of Shanghai Municipal Government
On September 28, 2023, Shanghai Municipal People's Government held a National Day reception at the Shanghai Exhibition Center to warmly celebrate the 74th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China. Party Secretary Chen Jining, Deputy Party Secretary and Mayor Gong Zheng gathered together with Chinese and foreign guests to celebrate the festival.
Li Dong, the representative of Lao students from the School of Railway Transportation, SIT was invited to attend the reception. Chen Jing, Deputy Director of the Standing Committee of the Shanghai Municipal People's Congress and President of Shanghai Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, encouraged Li Dong and took a group photo.
September 2023
Lao Student from SIT was Invited to Serve as International Experience Ambassador
On September 28, 2023, Foreign Affairs Office of Shanghai Municipal People's Government and Shanghai Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries held the launch ceremony of "International Services Shanghai" and "International Experience Ambassadors". Kong Fuan, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Municipal Government, Executive Vice President of the Shanghai Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, Jing Ying, Vice President of the Shanghai Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and other leaders attended. Li Dong, a Lao student from our school, participated in the event and was invited to serve as an " International Experience Ambassador".
