Expanding Our Presence
Peking University delegation visits Aramco, strengthens relationship
The goal of the group was to gain insights into Saudi culture, the Kingdom’s strategy, and Aramco’s endeavors in human capital development, technology advancement, and China-related strategy.
China, known for its awe-inspiring landmarks such as the Great Wall, is also home to some of the world’s finest universities. Aramco had the recent privilege of hosting a distinguished delegation from Peking University (PKU), which ranks among the top universities globally.
Strategic vision
Aramco’s strategic vision includes expanding its presence in economies such as China and Southeast Asia. In line with this, and in collaboration with Aramco Asia Public Affairs, the Academic Programs and Partnership Department (AP&PD) received the delegation from PKU warmly.
Led by professor Fu Zhiming, vice dean of the PKU Foreign Languages School, the 23-member delegation consisted of faculty members from various colleges and Ph.D. students. Their journey across Saudi Arabia commenced in Riyadh, where they visited prominent cultural institutions, including the Ministry of Culture, the historic town of Diriyah, the King Abdulaziz Public Library, and the National Museum. The goal of the group was to gain insights into Saudi Arabian culture, the Kingdom’s strategy, and more specifically, Aramco’s endeavors in human capital development, technology advancement, and China-related strategy.
Immersed in history
Upon arriving in the Eastern Province, the delegation — which included six Chinese visitors fluent in Arabic — enjoyed a traditional dinner at the Heritage Village. Immersed in history and captivated by the museum exhibits, students and faculty documented the experience with memorable photos. Locals were pleasantly surprised to have the opportunity to converse with these visitors in Arabic.
The following morning, the delegation attended presentations by AP&PD, where they learned more about Aramco. Aramco’s guests also had the opportunity to tour the Oil Supply, Planning, and Scheduling (OSPAS) facilities, and gained insight into the start of our journey, through a visit to Well No. 7. Other highlights included a visit to the 4IR Center.
The visit is set to help expand Aramco’s partnership with one of the world’s top universities. Similarly, in 2023, 11 students journeyed to China to learn Mandarin and subsequently apply to top-ranked Chinese universities. This long-term plan aligns with AP&PD’s objective of expanding university partnerships in the region. In addition, the China Market JV Management Division continues to succeed in establishing joint ventures in China, with the number doubling from two to four in 2023 alone.
Caption for top photo: The visit — which included a traditional dinner and tours of Aramco’s facilities such as the Prosperity Well No. 7 — was set to help expand Aramco’s partnership with one of the world’s top universities.