A launch ceremony for the maiden voyage of China's largest comprehensive scientific expedition vessel, the Zhong Shan Da Xue, was held on June 12 at the Zhuhai campus of Sun Yat-sen University (SYU) in Tangjiawan.

Launch ceremony [Photo courtesy Zhuhai Daily]

Construction of the vessel started in 2015, followed by other preparations like project initiation, naming, and trial operation. 

Chen Chunsheng, Party secretary of SYU, said that the world-leading scientific expedition vessel will be an offshore moveable scientific research platform and a talent cultivation base, providing strong support for the growing comprehensive strength of SYU's marine disciplines.

Chen added that the SYU Zhuhai campus is devoting great efforts to building high-level marine disciplines, supporting efforts to build China into a strong maritime country, and serving the Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Greater Bay Area development strategies. 

A high-end forum on marine and climate issues was held the same day, gathering experts and scholars in both online and on-site venues to discuss pressing topics like marine scientific expeditions, as well as marine resources' development and application. 

Attendees of the forum came from outstanding domestic science and technology research institutes and universities, such as the Institute of Atmospheric Physics of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, South China Sea Institute of Oceanology of CAS, as well as Peking and Fudan universities.