LIU Lianqing, Deputy Director SIA, delivered a speech at the ceremony. He pointed out that this year marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative. Over the past 10 years, SIA actively responded to the country's strategic initiatives and conducted international cooperation with universities and universities of countries along the "Belt and Road". This cooperation with American University of Beirut in Lebanon and the Lebanese Civil Defense focused on the collaborative research of emergency rescue robots. This cooperation has received support from the Key Special Project on Strategic International Technological Innovation Cooperation by the Ministry of Science and Technology, as well as the Bureau of International Cooperation of CAS.

Professor Imad Elhajj, Vice Dean of the Faculty of Engineering and Architecture at the American University of Beirut in Lebanon, briefly introduced the long-standing history of friendly exchanges between China and Lebanon. He stated that the successful handover of research achievements is an important milestone in Sino-Lebanese scientific and technological cooperation, and it represents a full recognition of the achievements of the project. He expressed his anticipation for future collaborations and the expectation of achieving even more fruitful results within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative.

QIAN Minjian, Ambassador of the Chinese Embassy in Lebanon stated in his speech that in the next three to five years, China will work together with Lebanon to advance the “Eight Major Initiatives” proposed by President Xi Jinping at the China-Arab States Cooperation Forum. These initiatives cover eight areas, including green innovation, youth development, and security and stability, etc. Sino-Lebanese scientific and technological innovation cooperation is highly complementary and has broad prospects, serving as an important driving force for the joint construction of the “Belt and Road” between China and Arab countries. The research and development cooperation on “Emergency Rescue and Survey Intelligent Robot Systems” fully harnesses the technical strengths of both China and Lebanon and addresses the practical needs of the Lebanese Civil Defense. It has facilitated efficient research and development work and opened up new pathways for Sino-Lebanese scientific and technological innovation cooperation and academic exchanges among young researchers. The establishment of the “China-Arab Joint Laboratory,” jointly initiated by China and Lebanon, is eagerly anticipated to promote the implementation of more scientific and technological cooperation achievements in the region.

WANG Zhenyu, Deputy Director of the International Cooperation Bureau of CAS emphasized longstanding focus on international scientific and technological cooperation of CAS. He stated that this handover between the two sides is an important collaboration in the field of science and technology, which has been highly recognized by the Lebanese side. Lebanon, has maintained friendly relations with China for a long time. Wang expressed the hope that in the future, CAS can establish a network of contacts with more Lebanese institutions and universities through personnel exchanges, mutual visits, joint seminars, and collaborative research, expanding the scope of cooperation and contributing to the development of scientific research capabilities in Lebanon and friendship between China and Lebanon.

Raymond Khattar, Director General of the Lebanese Civil Defense, expressed in his speech that the ground survey robot and the sampling operation robot are important achievements of the project. These robots enhance the capability of surveying hazardous areas and have demonstrated excellent results in Lebanon. The Lebanese Civil Defense will fully support this project. He also expressed his hope that bilateral cooperation between China and Lebanon, including scientific and technological cooperation, can be further strengthened.

WANG Rongfang, the first-level inspector of the International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology of China expressed that the friendly exchanges between China and Arab countries have a long history. In recent years, the Ministry of Science and Technology of China has attached great importance to scientific and technological exchanges and cooperation with Lebanon. The cooperation project on "Emergency Rescue and Survey Intelligent Robot System" has achieved fruitful outcomes, which will provide strong support for disaster relief efforts in Lebanon and further demonstrate the deep friendship between the two nations. The International Cooperation Department of the Ministry of Science and Technology will continue to support and promote scientific and technological cooperation and exchanges between China and Lebanon.