In the afternoon of June 30th, thepreparatorymeeting of the Materials Science and Engineering Sub-Alliance of the University Alliance of the Silk Road (MSESA-UASR) was held in Xi 'an, hosted by the School of Materials Science and Engineering of Xi 'an Jiaotong University (MSE-XJTU). Representatives from 26 universities including Tsinghua University, Beijing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Wuhan University of Technology, Harbin Institute of Technology, Zhejiang University, Beijing University of Science and Technology, Shanghai Jiaotong University, Northwest Polytechnic University attended the meeting.Mr. Wenbin Wang, chairman of Shaanxi Sirui New Material Co., LTD., Mr. Jianhua Huang, chairman of Shaanxi Detong New Material Technology Co., LTD., Ms. Jingping Bao, general manager of Shaanxi Yanchang Petroleum Rubber Company and Mr. Xiangcai Li, chairman of Henan Huamei New Material Technology Company also attended the preparatory meeting. The meeting was presided over by Prof. Zhiwei Shan, dean of XJTU-MSE.

Prof. Shan introduced the background, the preparation work and the future plans of MRSA-UASR.Ms. Yanjun Lei, deputy director of the Department of International Cooperation and Exchange of XJTU made a general introduction of University Alliance of the Silk Road (UASR) and gave some suggestions for the establishment of the MSESA-UASR.Prof. Mingming Zhang, secretary of the MSESA-UASR, introduced the preliminary character of the alliance.

It is expected that the sub-alliance will play an active role in strengthening the exchanges of students and the cooperation of scientific research among universities, promoting in-depth cooperation and exchanges among all the members, and enhancing the influence and strength of the materials science and engineering.