Under the guidance of Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Commerce and co-hosted by the School of International Studies and its alumni association, Foreign Trade Forum: Smart Ports and Service was held on September 25th. The event coincides with the 20th anniversary of NingboTech University.

With its opening ceremony presided over by REN Kai, Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party Committee of the School, the forum was attended by LI Fengwang, Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party Committee of NingboTech University, LIN Weizhong, head of the Division of E-commerce, Ningbo Municipal Bureau of Commerce, CHEN Zhongqiao, former Executive Deputy General Manager of Ningbo Daily Group's subsidiary, CHEN Meifang, deputy head of the university's Admissions and Career Guidance Office, FU Xiaoyu, Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party Committee of the School, ZHOU Wen, Deputy Dean of the School and over 40 alumni.

Addressing the opening ceremony, LI Fengwang pointed out that the university, situated in Ningbo, a city known for its foreign trade, is now focusing on two major discipline groups: smart ports and service and digital design and manufacturing. He noted that the forum is a grand gathering for alumni engaged in foreign trade and serves as an important opportunity for them to contribute their wisdom to the action plan of building Ningbo into a new trade hub.

LIN Weizhong mentioned that cross-border e-commerce has become a new driving force for economic growth and a new highlight as Ningbo strives to transform its foreign trade industry and that NingboTech University has greatly facilitated the city's cross-border e-commerce by taking active part in relevant projects. Further efforts would be made to train cross-border e-commerce professionals through government-business-university cooperation.

In addition, the first batch of alumni instructors were appointed during the ceremony to give full play to the exemplary role of alumni in student training.

Seven alumni delivered keynote speeches on topics like how to transform and upgrade traditional foreign trade industry, how freight businesses can seek new development modes in the post-pandemic era and how to shield themselves from legal risks in foreign trade transactions. Attendees then had in-depth discussions about the obstacles faced by foreign trade businesses during the post-pandemic era, ways to tap into niche markets of developed countries and how to expand emerging markets along the Belt and Road.