On November 18th, The Seminar on Excellence in Enhancing Consumer Relations for Suriname, hosted by the Ministry of Commerce of China and organized by Wuhan Textile University, officially commenced at Jianquan Hall on the Sunshine Campus. The opening ceremony was attended by Xu Kai, Deputy Director of the International Business Officials Training Institute under the Ministry of Commerce of China; Chen Huarong, First-Class Inspector of the Hubei Provincial Department of Commerce; Huang Wenhua, Director of the Foreign Economic Management Division; Zhang Chuhu, Deputy Commissioner of the Ministry of Commerce’s Representative Office in Wuhan; Ouyang Qiangbing, Deputy Section Chief; Wang Dong, Vice President of Wuhan Textile University; and a delegation from Suriname led by Ms. Suraksha, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Economic Affairs, Entrepreneurship and Technological Innovation, along with 25 government officials from Suriname.
Prior to the ceremony, President Fu Xin met with Xu Kai. He highlighted the WTU’s recent achievements in academic development, scientific research, and international education, and expressed sincere appreciation to the International Business Officials Training Institute and the Hubei Provincial Department of Commerce for their support in program approval and policy guidance. He emphasized that foreign aid training has long been regarded as a key platform for international exchange and cooperation, through which WTU actively promotes scientific, educational, and cultural exchanges between China and other countries. Going forward, WTU will continue to integrate high-quality global resources to advance innovation and excellence in international training programs.
Vice President Wang Dong warmly welcomed the Surinamese delegation and Chinese guests presented in the opening ceremony. He said that Wuhan Textile University has consistently aligned its mission with overall situation of national development, leveraging technological innovation to support capacity-building initiatives under the Belt and Road Initiative. He stated that this seminar is specifically designed to address Suriname’s developmental needs, aiming to establish a collaborative platform for market governance and consumer ecosystem development, strengthen cooperation in talent development and industrial coordination, and chart a new course for mutual learning and beneficial cooperation.
Xu Kai commended Wuhan Textile University for its dedicated efforts in organizing the seminar. He said that China and Suriname face shared challenges in areas such as poverty alleviation, climate change, and environmental sustainability. China remains committed to the principle of “teaching people how to fish” by sharing development experiences and knowledge with developing countries, contributing to a world of lasting peace and shared prosperity. He encouraged participants to present an authentic, multidimensional, and comprehensive image of China to their compatriots and to serve as ambassadors of Sino-Surinamese friendship and cooperation.
Chen Huarong introduced Hubei Province’s strategic position as a convergence point for the Yangtze River Economic Belt’s high-quality development and the revitalization of central China. He emphasized that the provincial Department of Commerce has capitalized on its geographical, industrial, and market advantages to continuously improve the business environment and promote high-level openness, thereby driving Hubei’s role as a regional hub. He expressed hope that this training initiative would further enhance economic and trade ties and governance collaboration between Hubei and Suriname.
Ms. Suraksha, representing the Surinamese participants, extended heartfelt gratitude for the meticulous planning and thoughtful arrangements made by the Chinese side. She affirmed that the training holds significant value for enhancing Suriname’s business environment and strengthening consumer protection frameworks. She urged participants to effectively adapt China’s advanced practices into practical solutions for overcoming domestic development challenges.
The 14-day program covers critical topics including legal frameworks for consumer rights protection, innovative market supervision mechanisms, digital transformation, and service quality enhancement. Through a combination of expert lectures, case analysis, and site visits, it aims to equip participants with a comprehensive “policy toolkit” for market regulation and improved decision-making capabilities in public service delivery.
