To enhance international exchanges, deepen cooperation with ASEAN nations, expand the global influence of civil engineering and advanced materials, and advance GXU's Double First-Class Initiative, Guangxi University recently organized its first International Summer Camp on Civil Engineering & Advanced Materials. The event brought together faculty and student representatives from ASEAN institutions including Universiti Teknologi Brunei (Brunei), Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (Malaysia), and Suratthani Rajabhat University (Thailand). Prof. Dr. Xiao Jianzhuang, Vice President, attended and addressed the opening ceremony.

In his address, Xiao Jianzhuang extended a warm welcome on behalf of GXU to the ASEAN delegation and outlined Guangxi University's developmental progress and internationalization strategy. He emphasized the institution's high priority on academic exchanges with ASEAN universities, expressing hopes to strengthen collaborations with Universiti Teknologi Brunei, Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Suratthani Rajabhat University, and other ASEAN partners through this summer camp. He further encouraged participants to engage in rigorous academic exploration, actively exchange ideas, experience China's dynamic infrastructure development and profound cultural heritage, and foster mutual understanding and enduring friendships.

At the opening ceremony, participant representatives Nurulizyan Jahari (Universiti Teknologi Brunei) and Yata Liengruksa (international student studying at GXU's School of Civil Engineering and Architecture) delivered speeches expressing their expectations for the camp and aiming to broaden academic perspectives and enhance cross-cultural exchanges through this initiative.

The summer camp featured diverse activities including academic workshops, field visits, and cultural immersion sessions. Prof. Chen Zheng and Prof. Gao Yuan delivered lectures on arch bridge construction and climate change adaptation respectively. Participants toured campus facilities such as the Large-Scale Structural Testing Platform for Civil Engineering, Marine Science Education Hall, University History Museum, Herbarium, and Quanxue Island, experiencing the institution's cultural legacy and advanced technological resources. They also examined urban infrastructure at landmark sites in downtown Nanning, explored Lingnan architecture and Guangxi's traditional customs, and engaged in immersive cultural activities—including calligraphy, traditional sports, and Caidiao opera performances—to appreciate the distinct charm of Chinese culture.

The summer camp was hosted by Guangxi University, jointly undertaken by the  International Cooperation and Exchange Department and the School of Civil Engineering and Architecture, with support from the Secretariat of ISO/TC 71/SC 9 Subcommittee and its domestic technical counterpart.