On May 3, 2026, a delegation from Angelakos (Hellas) S.A., Greece, including Mr. Evangelos El. Angelakos, Honorary Chairman of Angelakos (Hellas) S.A.; Mr. Stephanos E. Angelakos, CEO of the company; and Ms. Amelia Rocos, an analyst at Isthmus Resources (Beijing) Co. Ltd. visited Chongqing Jiaotong University (CJU).

An honorary appointment ceremony was held during the visit. Mr. Evangelos El. Angelakos was named Honorary Dean of the Shipping and Naval Architecture School, Mr. Stephanos E. Angelakos was appointed Honorary Professor, and Ms. Amelia Rocos was designated “Maritime Technology International Promotion Ambassador” of CJU. The appointments were presented by Gong Hui, Chairman of University Board, and attended by Vice Presidents Luo Jun and Dong Shaojiang, along with faculty and student representatives.

In the afternoon, the delegation visited the School of Shipping and Naval Architecture at the Science City Campus. They observed research demonstrations including unmanned vessels and a digital twin system, and also inspected the State Key Laboratory of Mountain Bridge and Tunnel Engineering and the National Engineering Research Centre for Inland Waterway Regulation.

Following the site inspections, the honorary appointment ceremony was held in a conference room at the Western Research Institute on the Science City Campus. The ceremony was chaired by Vice President Luo Jun and attended by more than 100 representatives.

At the ceremony, Mr. Evangelos El. Angelakos reflected on his more than half‑century connection with China, from childhood dreams of the Silk Road to composing an ancient Greek ode for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. He noted that shipping is a natural bond between Greek and Chinese civilisations and pledged to promote Sino‑Greek maritime education exchanges as Honorary Dean. Mr. Stephanos E. Angelakos announced that his company has invested over US$750 million in China and ordered eight new eco‑friendly bulk carriers. He committed to establishing lectureships, scholarships, shipboard internships, and a joint laboratory with CJU to cultivate globally minded shipping professionals. Ms. Amelia Rocos stated that she would build a bridge for Sino‑Greek maritime technology cooperation.

The two sides exchanged ceremonial gifts, including a calligraphy scroll and an ancient maritime astrolabe. Later, the Greek guests held a symposium with students from the “Zheng He” class, sharing career insights and encouraging them to become youth ambassadors for Sino‑Greek shipping cooperation.

Before the ceremony, the delegation toured the “Two Roads” Spirit Education Garden, the university museum, and the Smart Education Centre, gaining insight into CJU’s history and educational ethos. Mr. Evangelos El. Angelakos remarked that the perseverance of China’s transportation workers deeply resonates with the seafaring spirit of the Greek people.

The visit and associated activities represent a concrete step by Chongqing Jiaotong University to implement the Belt and Road Initiative and advance its high-level opening up to the outside world. They also mark an important milestone in the university’s maritime discipline development and international cooperation. Looking ahead, the university will take these appointments as an opportunity to deepen engagement with Angelakos (Hellas) S.A. and relevant Greek institutions, accelerating the joint establishment of a Sino-Greek shipping talent alliance, an international joint research centre, and a cultural exchange platform. These efforts aim to continuously raise the international standard of the university’s maritime programmes and provide strong support for the strategies of building China’s strength in transportation and maritime development, as well as for the advancement of the China-Greece comprehensive strategic partnership.