Translator: Pei Yiqian 

Source: School of Automotive Business 

Editor: Guangjuan 

Author: Huang Zihao 

Date: October 24, 2026

News Report (By Huang Zihao)

On October 24, the International Symposium on Logistics and Systems Engineering was grandly held at the Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle Experience Center in Shiyan. Co-hosted by the School of Automotive Business, Hubei Provincial Regional Economic Society and Hubei Logistics Association, the symposium took “Smart Logistics and Digital-Intelligent Systems Engineering” as its theme. It brought together experts, scholars and delegates from across China and overseas to explore pathways for the development of smart logistics and digital-intelligent systems engineering, and advance high-quality coordinated development of the automotive and modern logistics industries.

Gong Juhai, Vice Mayor of Shiyan Municipal People’s Government; Wang Xiao, Secretary of the University Party Committee; Zhang Ge, Secretary of the Party Committee and Chairman of Dongfeng Logistics Group Co., Ltd.; also in attendance were experts and scholars from the United Kingdom, Malaysia, Pakistan, Ghana and other countries, representatives of domestic universities and academic journals, and industry leaders from over 40 enterprises. The opening ceremony was hosted by Hu Mingmao, Dean of the Institute of Science, Technology and Development of Hubei University of Automotive Technology.

In his address, Gong Juhai stated that Shiyan, known as the Capital of China’s Commercial Vehicles, boasts a solid automotive industry foundation. Its complete industrial and supply chains provide extensive practical scenarios for the innovative development of smart logistics. Shiyan is forging ahead with the development of a green and low-carbon demonstration zone, promoting the in-depth integration of advanced manufacturing and modern logistics. He hoped that this international symposium would serve as a bridge to draw on global cutting-edge advances in smart logistics and digital-intelligent systems engineering to fuel local industrial upgrading, and continuously deepen practical cooperation with universities and research institutions worldwide.

Wang Xiao pointed out in his address that artificial intelligence and digital technologies have opened up new development opportunities for smart logistics and digital-intelligent systems engineering. Logistics and systems engineering serve as a key enabler linking supply and demand chains and supporting the digital transformation of the manufacturing industry. Rooted in Shiyan, the university leverages platforms including the School of Automotive Business to advance the in-depth integration of management science and engineering disciplines with automotive and intelligent manufacturing, and strives to cultivate interdisciplinary industrial talents. He expressed hope that participating experts at home and abroad could engage in in-depth discussions on frontier areas including AI-enabled logistics engineering and the green transition of supply chains, so as to deepen cross-regional and interdisciplinary research cooperation and provide intellectual support for local industrial development.

A landmark signing ceremony took place at the opening session, where the Automotive Logistics and Supply Chain Innovation Consortium for Industry-Education and Science-Education Integration was officially launched. More than 20 institutions, including universities, government bodies, automotive and logistics enterprises, signed agreements in five batches. The consortium will hold regular industry exchanges and focus on addressing practical pain points within automotive supply chains, consolidating the foundation for the development of logistics and supply chains in the automotive industry.

The signing for the Dongfeng Zhixiang Integrated Management System Project also took place at the symposium. Dongfeng Automobile Trading Co., Ltd. and the School of Automotive Business of Hubei University of Automotive Technology entered into a cooperation agreement. An application-oriented research output under the university’s industry-education integration strategy, the project will deploy digital technologies to empower automotive trade and logistics, boost the coordinated operational efficiency of industrial and supply chains, and accelerate the translation of research outcomes into industrial applications.

The symposium brought together more than 30 international scholars and experts from over 20 domestic universities, including City University of Hong Kong, Zhejiang University and National University of Defense Technology. In the afternoon, keynote speeches were delivered at two venues: the Dongfeng Commercial Vehicle Brand Experience Center and the lecture hall in the Industry-Education Building of Hubei University of Automotive Technology. Participants held academic discussions covering smart logistics, innovations in digital-intelligent systems, and best practices in automotive industrial logistics. These academic exchanges will foster collaborative innovation among governments, industries, universities and research institutes, and advance the digital and intelligent transformation of the logistics sector.

(Reviewed by: Yan Caozheng)