"China-Africa Cooperation Forges Close Friendships, Joining Hands for Mutual Development" - Documentary on BGRIMM "Innovation Path" in the Belt and Road Initiative

The Tang poetry says, "A bosom friend afar brings a distant land near," and "True friendship knows no bounds; even ten thousand miles apart, we remain neighbors." The profound Chinese traditional culture has nurtured the broad-minded sentiment of the Chinese people: "When the great way is followed, all under heaven is shared." From ancient times to the present, starting with Zhang Qian's exploration of the ancient Silk Road and marked by Zheng He's opening of the Maritime Silk Road, the Chinese people have actively reached out to the world, transcending cultural barriers through exchanges, surpassing conflicts through mutual learning, and promoting coexistence through shared prosperity. Each cherishes its own beauty, appreciates others 'beauty, and together they create a beautiful and harmonious chapter of life. In the autumn of 2013, President Xi Jinping proposed the major initiative to jointly build the "Silk Road Economic Belt" and the "21st Century Maritime Silk Road." This is a grand vision and Chinese solution put forward by President Xi Jinping to promote global common prosperity and build a community with a shared future for mankind, opening up new horizons for China's participation and leadership in global openness and cooperation. Over the past six years, from Eurasia to Africa, America, and Oceania, the scientific and technological cooperation among countries involved in the joint construction has played a significant role in promoting technological progress, industrial integration, enhancing cultural exchanges, and fostering win-win cooperation. The "innovative path" of the "Belt and Road" has become an important aspect and shining card of the new era's "Belt and Road" construction. As a pioneer in China's mining and metallurgical technology sector, BGRIMM has actively responded to President Xi Jinping's initiative to jointly build the "Belt and Road," establishing and developing scientific and technological cooperation with over 30 research institutions in more than ten countries, conducting international scientific and technological cooperation in various ways, and continuously striving for practical innovation, vigorous advancement, and steady progress in the high-quality development of international scientific and technological cooperation.

China and South Africa work together for mutual benefit

Since 2010, with the support of the science and technology departments of the two sides, BGRIMM has carried out cooperative research on mineral resources development and comprehensive utilization together with the University of Cape Town, the University of Limpopo and the South African Institute of Science, Technology and Industry, etc., and achieved a series of fruitful results, laying a solid foundation for the establishment of a joint experimental center.

In September 2018, the "China-South Africa Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Sustainable Exploration and Utilization of Mineral Resources" was successfully inaugurated in Johannesburg, South Africa, and Beijing, China, under the witness of the science and technology departments of both countries. This marks the official establishment of the "China-South Africa Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Sustainable Exploration and Utilization of Mineral Resources" setting a new starting point for international scientific and technological cooperation between China and South Africa in the mining sector.

Relying on the "China-South Africa Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Sustainable Exploration and Utilization of Mineral Resources" in June 2019, the BGRIMM "China-South Africa Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Sustainable Exploration and Utilization of Mineral Resources " was officially approved by the Chinese Ministry of Science and Technology to be constructed, becoming one of the first 14 "Belt and Road" joint laboratories. The "Belt and Road" joint laboratory is a significant measure to implement the national "Belt and Road" initiative, an effective support for advancing the "innovation path" of the national "Belt and Road," another exemplary achievement of BGRIMM international scientific and technological cooperation efforts, and a shining card for BGRIMM international operations.

Over the past year, China-South Africa Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Sustainable Exploration and Utilization of Mineral Resources It has efficiently allocated and comprehensively integrated scientific and technological innovation resources in line with the development needs of China and "Belt and Road" partner countries. Through joint training, academic discussions, short-term training programs, and exchange visits, the laboratory collaboratively advances high-level scientific research and the development of cutting-edge common key technologies in priority areas of mutual interest. Together, they aim to cultivate high-caliber, international scientific researchers and technology management professionals, build outstanding research teams, and promote advanced and applicable technologies, cooperative models, and management practices. This effort also serves to radiate and drive "Belt and Road" scientific and technological innovation cooperation.

According to the cooperation agreement between both parties, in March 2019, Dr. Peace Prince Mkhonto from the University of Limpopo in South Africa visited BGRIMM for a six-month exchange. He collaborated with BGRIMM researchers on basic and applied research projects focusing on mineral crystals and pharmaceutical molecules. As his visit was about to conclude, he gladly accepted an interview with BGRIMM, sharing his insights and experiences from the past six months.

Dr. Mkhonto mentioned that the six-month research project conducted in collaboration with BGRIMM went very smoothly. By using Materials Studio molecular simulation software to simulate the interactions between agents and minerals, they studied the adsorption mechanisms of five alkoxycarbonyl thioureas and three alkyl thioureas on the surface of chalcopyrite. The relevant findings from their joint research have significant academic value and potential for industrial application.

Dr. Mkhonto said happily that more importantly, while executing the project, both sides have built a deep friendship and mutual trust, gained a deeper understanding of the cultures and languages of both countries, laying a solid foundation for the sustainable development of the future "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory. Dr. Mkhonto believes that through close cooperation between colleagues from both sides, the "Belt and Road" Joint Laboratory will certainly elevate their innovative collaboration to a new and higher level, making greater contributions to the prosperity and development of the economies and societies of China and South Africa

China and Arab countries should work together for development

On May 24,2019, following the successful unveiling of the "China-South Africa Belt and Road Joint Laboratory on Sustainable Exploration and Utilization of Mineral Resources" BGRIMM successfully held the signing ceremony for the "Belt and Road Mining and Metallurgy Technology Partnership Program" in Beijing. The program signed cooperation agreements with four research institutions: Mikhailovskaya Technical Corporation of Russia, the Kazakh Metallurgical and Mineral Processing Research Institute, the ORGM Institute of Algeria, and the Erdene Technology College of Mongolia. These institutions are committed to joint research, technology transfer, and talent cultivation, aiming to actively contribute innovative scientific achievements to the development of the mining industry in countries along the "Belt and Road." They are taking concrete actions to deepen and solidify the "Belt and Road" initiative.

Since the signing of the partnership agreement, BGRIMM and its partners have adhered to the principle of "consultation, co-construction, and sharing." They have actively engaged in various forms of practical cooperation, including joint research, laboratory construction, personnel exchanges, and training, focusing on technical areas and business needs of mutual concern. This collaboration aims to enhance the research capabilities and technological levels of all parties and promote the cultivation of high-level international scientific and technological talent. Currently, the cooperation is progressing smoothly with positive outcomes. The collaboration between BGRIMM and ORGM Institute serves as a prime example.

ORGM Institute is a national-level research institution in the field of mining and metallurgy in Algeria. According to the "Belt and Road" partner program, on November 8, 2019, three young chemical engineers from ORGM Institute—Ahmed Rami Khenich, Hamma Fares, and Lallam Abdeldjali—visited BGRIMM North Mine Testing Company for a three-month exchange and study program. They worked alongside BGRIMM colleagues to complete daily testing tasks, aiming to master the chemical analysis methods for AAS, ICP-AES, ICP-MS, as well as rare earth elements and lithium. These three young individuals, all first-time visitors to China for their studies, happily accepted an interview with BGRIMM at the BGRIMM R&D Center, enthusiastically sharing their learning and work experiences over the past month.

Lallam Abdeldjali was deeply impressed by the BGRIMM testing equipment and praised the overall working environment of the BGRIMM testing laboratory as clean and tidy, providing him with a comfortable and safe training environment. Hamma Fares also nodded in agreement and added that BGRIMM has advanced technology and rich experience in chemical analysis. The reception and training provided by BGRIMM to his peers were meticulous and patient, enabling him to quickly grasp the theoretical knowledge and operational procedures of relevant instruments, for which he was very grateful. Ahmed Rami Khenich, the most talkative of the three young people, concluded that Algeria is a country that has signed the "Belt and Road" framework agreement with China and is also a major global mineral resource country. In the field of mineral resource development and utilization, both Algeria and China face common challenges such as increasing mining depth, declining resource quality, and enhanced safety and environmental constraints. The pragmatic cooperation between BGRIMM and ORGM Research Institute in the field of mining technology, through bilateral exchanges between researchers from both countries, has significantly promoted the improvement of research capabilities and technical levels on both sides. This cooperation is of great significance for jointly addressing these technical challenges, promoting the sustainable development and utilization of mineral resources, and providing technological support for projects related to the "Belt and Road" initiative in the mining and metallurgy sectors.

"A single flower blooming does not make spring; it takes a garden of flowers to fill the air with the season's fragrance." In today's world, we are intertwined, each with a part of the other. BGRIMM actively implements President Xi Jinping's three proposals for building an open, cooperative, innovative, and shared global economy, earnestly follows the relevant work deployments of the Central Committee and SASAC, focusing on the "innovative path" of Belt and Road, and engages in hand-in-hand cooperation with enterprises from multiple countries, including South Africa and Algeria. We promote reform, development, and innovation through openness, actively advance cooperation in science and technology as well as cultural exchanges, and jointly build joint laboratories. We strive to find the greatest common divisor of cooperation, continuously expand the intersection of mutual benefits, and work together to create meticulous and detailed "ink paintings," making greater contributions to corporate stakeholders, world economic growth, and the happiness of people around the globe.

Source: BGRIMM WeChat public account

Article link: https://mp.weixin.qq.com/s/UisUv0YbNJcqTicnz_r-jA