Guangzhou, China – May 30, 2025 — In a significant step toward advancing scientific cooperation in marine and environmental research, the South China Sea Institute of Oceanology (SCSIO), Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS), and the University of Chittagong (CU), Bangladesh, signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) during the “Climate Change and Ecological Environment” Symposium held in Guangzhou.

The event, hosted at the State Key Laboratory of Tropical Oceanography, brought together top marine scientists and academics to foster bilateral collaboration in addressing global challenges related to climate change, marine hazards, and ecological sustainability. The two-day program, held from May 26–27, featured insightful academic presentations, networking sessions, and discussions on joint research priorities, culminating in a formal MoU signing and group photograph.

Key figures from both institutions graced the ceremony. Prof. Chaolun Li, Director General of SCSIO, delivered the welcome address, followed by remarks from Prof. Dr. Mohammed Shamim Uddin Khan, Pro Vice Chancellor (Academic) of CU. Distinguished speakers included Academician Prof. Jing Zhang, Prof. Dr. M. Shahadat Hossain (Dean of Marine Sciences and Fisheries, CU), and Prof. Dr. Sheikh Aftab Uddin (Director, Institute of Marine Sciences, CU).

The academic program highlighted the research capacities and emerging priorities of both institutions. Presentations covered topics ranging from blue growth strategies in Bangladesh, the Indian Ocean Dipole mechanism, plankton ecology, remote sensing technologies, and the dynamics of coral reef and mangrove ecosystems. The afternoon session focused on the research experiences and aspirations of ANSO Fellowship Ph.D. students currently studying at SCSIO. Students from Bangladesh—including Md. Abu Kawsar, Ananna Rahman, and Md. Habibur Rahman—shared their academic journeys, research highlights, and personal insights into life and study in China. Their topics ranged from aquaculture sustainability and microplastic pollution to oyster virology and environmental modeling. These presentations offered a valuable perspective on the role of young scientists in fostering international collaboration.

This MoU signifies a formal commitment to long-term cooperation in marine science, including faculty and student exchanges, joint research projects, capacity building, and collaborative participation in scientific expeditions. The partnership aims to harness shared knowledge and technological innovation to promote sustainable ocean governance and blue economy development in the Bay of Bengal and the South China Sea regions.

The ceremony concluded with a discussion on future joint research opportunities, followed by a reception dinner celebrating the spirit of international scientific partnership.

Arif/Raoha