From December 6 to December 14, I had the opportunity to visit various universities in China: Hainan University, Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University (ZAFU), Xinhua Technical and Vocational College, Pingtan Research Institute of Xiamen University, and Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU), accompanied by Mr. Kelvin, the honorary director of the Carbon Management Unit (6CMU).
Hainan University in China invited me to present a lecture titled “Blue Economy and Blue Carbon: Reshaping Ocean Resource Management” at the 1st International Conference on Ecological and Environmental Sustainable Development. The experience was rewarding and demanding, as I was positioned adjacent to the Blue Carbon Guru, with whom I had sought collaboration in 2016, yet received no response.
I presented my Carbon Management Unit (6CMU) to the Blue Carbon group at Hainan University, comprising Prof. Xiaoshan Zhu, and Prof. Wei Mao, Assoc. Prof. Dr. Ping Li, Dr. Yaseen, and Dr. Shahid. Collaboration has been established among the Institute for Carbon Neutrality Industry and Technology Innovation, Hainan University, and 6CMU, focusing on new research objectives and initiatives.
On December 9, I visited the College of Environment and Resources and the College of Carbon Neutrality at Zhejiang Agriculture and Forestry University (ZAFU). The 6CMU team proposed a partnership between UPM and ZAFU through a memorandum of understanding for carbon-related initiatives. The individuals who greeted us at ZAFU, Prof. Wang, my good friend, Prof. Charlie, and Dr. Spring, were outstanding.
Visiting Xinhua Technical Vocational College on December 12th was a remarkable experience, marked by a warm reception from Mr. Chen, the official representative of Fujian province, along with the principal and college staff. This vocational institution provides diplomas and brief courses. We agreed to collaborate on training regarding carbon management and accounting.
We reached the Pingtan Research Institute of Xiamen University on the same day. The objective of this esteemed institute is to focus on patents. Prof. Lin Fan, the Dean of the institute, elucidated its diverse sections. I was also honoured by the Pingtan Institute with the title of Visiting Professor. Professor Lin Fan orchestrated a ceremony to establish a 6CMU subunit aimed at facilitating further research and advancing carbon initiatives at the institute.
On December 13, the 6CMU team visited Fujian Agriculture and Forestry University (FAFU). We were hosted by the Vice Dean Prof Futao Guo and the Deputy Deans of the forestry college. We discussed carbon training, mobility programmes, and the introduction of a dual-degree program in carbon. A written signing ceremony for prospective collaboration was conducted among FAFU officials.
● Waseem Razzaq Khan (PhD), Consultant Fellow, Faculty of Forestry and Environment, University Putra Malaysia;
Visiting Professor: Pingtan Research Institute of Xiamen University; Associate Editor: Tropical Conservation Science (TCS); Editor: Discover Forests
DISCLAIMER:
The views expressed here are those of the writer and do not necessarily represent the views of the Sarawak Tribune.
