BXAI

As he reflects on his AFLSP experience, Wu Siyu recalls gaining a more optimistic perspective of the future through his interactions with fellow scholars, many of whom were “enthusiastic about changing the future of Asia and the world”.  It was during the 2016 BXAI Summer Program when the graduate of The University of Tokyo further explored his own strengths and passions and seriously considered his future.  After meeting many leaders in the financial field, Siyu realized that his interests and skills would be better applied to a career in finance rather than his initial plan of working in the renewable energy industry.  “My goal is to help companies to best compete and grow in a changing world,” says Siyu, who currently works as an analyst at ICBC International Holdings Limited in Hong Kong.

Encouraged by the lively and valuable exchanges he had with other scholars during his time in the AFLSP, Siyu hopes that the young people of his generation will continue to “engage in constructive conversations to build a brighter future” in Asia and beyond.

Having recently graduated from Kyoto University with a master’s degree in engineering, BX Alumnus Ding Hao, who hails from Mainland China, is now preparing himself for his new role as IT consultant at Simplex Inc., a Tokyo-based firm that provides consulting services to financial institutions through the use of sophisticated technologies.

The multilingual Hao, who speaks Chinese, Japanese, and English, looks forward to starting his career in an international environment that will equip him with business skills and prepare him for the future.  “One of the things I value about the firm is its mix of employees from different backgrounds, which is an important component for success, as I’ve learned through the AFLSP,” says Hao.

Japan’s historic success in transforming advanced technology into affordable consumer products has also been an inspiration for Hao.  “Japan’s market is relatively small, while China has the market but lacks the technology.  One day, I hope to bridge the high-tech markets of Japan and China.  Both cultures hold similar values and I think this is a good entry point to build mutual trust.  Bilateral collaboration would boost technological innovation, increase market share, and improve stability and development in the region.”

Benedict Kim graduated from Zhejiang University (ZJU) in 2017 under the AFLSP with a master’s degree in public administration.  Fluent in Mandarin and Korean, Benedict currently works at the South Korean Consulate General in Xi’an, where he hopes to contribute to the development of bilateral relations between China and South Korea.  “The two countries share a lot of similarities, particularly from a traditional and cultural perspective,” says Benedict. “I believe this is a great platform on which both countries can build closer relations with one another.”

Prior to earning his master’s degree, Benedict acquired a bachelor’s degree in international trade, also from ZJU.  His extended study abroad experiences in Mainland China have equipped him well to pursue a career in international relations. “It is a blessing that I wasn’t expecting before,” he says, adding that his time at Waseda University during the Summer Program opened his eyes to the importance of shared experiences and mutual understanding amongst people of different backgrounds. “Together, we can collaborate and tackle key issues in Asia, especially since our interests and perspectives can be shared,” he says.

ZENG Qian (left) and XUE Weiqi (right)  

BX Alumnus Xue Weiqi is currently a PhD candidate at The Hong Kong University of Science and Technology (HKUST).  His company, INNOWAT Limited, was set up last year to help wastewater treatment plants produce sulfated polysaccharides (a valuable and widely used industrial feedstock) so that they can generate profit and reduce pollution at the same time.  “Creating economic profit to compensate for operational costs during wastewater treatment is promising and important, especially for developing countries.  The saved money can be used for the extension and upgradation of plants to improve the water quality,” explains Weiqi.

Through his AFLSP experience, Weiqi not only earned a degree in environmental engineering but also gained a broader perspective of water pollution issues in East Asia.  “I think more cross-border collaboration and efforts are needed to control the problem in an economical way.  Sacrificing our environment to achieve economic development is not sustainable,” he says.

Since early this year, Weiqi, along with his business partner and COO, Zeng Qian (also an Bai Xian Scholar from HKUST), has been busy working with wastewater treatment plants in Mainland China and preparing the equipment for large-scale operations.  While Weiqi develops technologies for extraction, purification, and equipment scale-up, Qian works on technologies to manage the pre- and post-treatment of sludge.  “I aim to install my equipment in five plants and achieve an annual production of 2000 tons of industrial sulfated polysaccharides (equivalent to a market value of US$ 5.5 million) by 2023.  My goal is to advance the wastewater treatment industry not only by developing new technology, but also by adding economic value,” says Weiqi.