On 11 and 12 June 2025, the Belt and Road Forum on Engineering Capacity Building was successfully held in Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China, under the theme “Pioneering Engineering Innovation and Co-constructing Engineering Capacity”.
The forum aimed to enhance engineering capacity building among Belt and Road partner countries, promote the development of engineering education, encourage mutual recognition of engineering qualifications, and foster the open sharing of continuous professional development resources for engineers.
Participated by several influential organizations including the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) and the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), the forum brought together more than 200 participants from over 20+ regional and national engineering institutions, including representatives from engineering societies, academia, governments, and leading industries across the globe.
The opening ceremony was graced by the presence of distinguished guests including:
- WAN Gang, President of the China Association for Science and Technology (CAST);
- Seng Chuan TAN, President-Elect of the World Federation of Engineering Organizations (WFEO) and Emeritus President of the Institution of Engineers Singapore (IES);
- Aung Kyaw Myat, President of the Federation of Engineering Institutions of Asia and Pacific (FEIAP) and President of the Myanmar Engineering Council (MEngC);
- LIN Xin, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China and
- YU Lijun, Deputy Party Secretary of the Sichuan Province.
Prof. CHAI Liyuan, President of Tianjin University and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering, hosting the High-level Dialogue on Engineering Capacity Building
The ceremony was chaired by Prof. CHAI Liyuan, President of the Tianjin University and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering.
In the address, Er. Tan Seng Chuan emphasized the increasingly vital role of engineers in a time marked by rapid transformation and global uncertainty. He noted that the Belt and Road Initiative, encompassing more than 60% of the world’s population, plays a crucial role in shaping the future of global infrastructure.
Er. Tan Seng Chuan, President-Elect of WFEO, delivering his speech
He proposed three key areas for collaboration: alignment with the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), strengthening engineering education partnerships, and deepening multi-regional cooperation. Calling for solidarity “with one heart and one mind,” he urged that capacity building be viewed as a multiplier for resilience and a pathway toward a smarter, greener, and more inclusive future.
Er. Tan Seng Chuan, President-Elect of WFEO, listening to the High-level Dialogue on Engineering Capacity Building
The release of the Consensus on Engineering Capacity Building under the Belt and Road Initiative
A major highlight of the forum was the release of the Consensus on Engineering Capacity Building under the Belt and Road Initiative, which outlined six core objectives:
- Joint development and sharing of engineering education curricula and resources
- Establishment of recognition standards for engineering education and competence assessment
- Shared resources for continuous professional development (CPD) of engineers
- Alignment of engineering technical standards
- Promotion of engineering ethics and professional conduct
- Advancement of international exchange and cooperation
The consensus was jointly initiated by 34 prominent organizations and institutions, representing a powerful alliance of engineering expertise and shared commitment across Belt and Road partner countries. Together, they aim to build an open, inclusive, and mutually beneficial global engineering community.
This forum not only laid a solid foundation for deeper international collaboration but also injected fresh momentum into the global engineering landscape. Participants expressed strong expectations that this event would serve as a catalyst for greater cooperation and shared progress in the engineering profession worldwide.
Report by Eric Toh, Manager of External Relations, Institution of Engineers, Singapore (IES).
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JUN
2025