A delegation from Ocean University of China (OUC) led by Prof. Yu Zhigang, President of OUC, visited the Commonwealth of the Bahamas（the Bahamas）July 27-29, 2015, to discuss with the Bahamas Agriculture and Marine Science Institute (BAMSI) issues concerning the implementation of the cooperation intention concluded by the two sides in January 2015, when Mr. Perry Christie, Prime Minister of the Bahamas, visited China.
The OUC delegation included Vice President Li Huajun and heads of International Office, College of Fisheries, College of Marine Life Science and Qingdao Seawin Biotech Group. Chinese Ambassador to the Bahamas Yuan Guisen accompanied the OUC delegation during the visit.
The Bahamian Prime Minister Perry Christie meets with the OUC delegation
OUC President Yu Zhigang presents a souvenir of Chinese calligraphy to the Bahamian Prime Minister Christie
The OUC delegation arrived Nassau, the capital of the Bahamas in the afternoon on July 27. Prime Minister Perry Christie, together with Mr. Frederick Mitchell, Minister of the Bahamas Diplomacy and Immigration Ministry, and Mr. Jerome Fitzgerald, Minister of the Bahamas Education, Science and Technology Ministry, met with the OUC guests at the Office the Prime Minister. In his speech, the Prime Minister extended his warm welcome. He suggested the OUC visitors take a field trip to other part of the country to know more about the island nation and promote mutual collaboration in various areas while facilitating the development of agricultural and marine-related industries in the Bahamas. OUC President Yu Zhigang provided the local hosts with an account of how the OUC delegation had prepared for the cooperation-seeking trip before they left China. He said OUC attached great importance to collaboration with the Bahamas in such areas as education, science and technology as well as industry, adding the university is ready to implement the cooperative activities discussed between the two sides.
The OUC delegation talks with representatives from agricultural, marine and industrial sectors.
On July 27, the OUC delegation had a talk at the Chinese Embassy in the Bahamas with the local representatives from agricultural, marine and industrial sectors.
OUC delegation at BAMSI’s teaching and experiment farm
On July 27 and the morning of July 29, the group toured Andros, the biggest island in the Bahamas where BAMSI is located. They discussed with Ambassador Godfrey Eneas, the head of BAMSI, and Dr. Raveenia Hanna, executive director of BAMSI, about issues concerning faculty and student exchanges, academic collaboration as well as marine biological diversity research, fishery resources assessment, mariculture, and bio-resource development and commercialization.
OUC President Yu and Ambassador Eneas sign an agreement for cooperation
Members of the OUC delegation pose for a group photo with the Bahamian Prime Minister (front row, left to right: Chinese Ambassador Yuan, OUC President Yu, Prime Minister Christie, Ambassador Eneas and Minister Gary)
In the presence of Prime Minister Christie, Mr. Alfred Gary, Minister of Agriculture, Marine Resource and Local Government, and Mr. Yuan Guisen, Chinese Ambassador to the Bahamas, a cooperation agreement between OUC and BAMSI was concluded in the afternoon of July 29. This agreement will serve as a vehicle to foster faculty and student exchanges/internship, joint research in oceanography and fisheries science, the establishment of a joint research center, training programs in science and technology, as well as technological transfer and commercialization in bio-resource development and utilization.
The visit by the OUC delegation and the cooperative activities listed in the agreement were covered by the Bahamian official website, the national television and major newspapers.
Translated by Allison ZHANG
Proofread by William ZOU
