On August 10, 2023 Cooperation Conference Between Jiangsu and African Countries was held in Zhenjiang. This year is the 10th anniversary of the proposal for the Belt and Road Initiative, China’s African policy of “truth, practicability, amity and honesty”, and the correct concept of justice and interests. On this occasion, the conference further deepened the exchange and cooperation between Jiangsu Province and African countries. Namibian Ambassador to China Elia G. Kaiyamo, Consul General of the Republic of South Africa in Shanghai Tsipa Phuti Joyce, Deputy Director-general of Department of African Affairs, Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Zhou Ping, Deputy Director of Foreign Affairs Office of Jiangsu Provincial People's Government Yang Jing, Vice Mayor of Zhenjiang City Yin Min, and Vice President of Jiangsu University (JSU) Prof. Zhao Yutao attended the conference and delivered speeches.
On August 11, Zhou Ping and Yang Jing were invited to JSU to talk with representative international students from China-Africa Relationship Think Tank of the Overseas Education College. Director of Foreign Affairs Office of Zhenjiang Municipal People's Government Lu Lilin, Director of the International Office of JSU Prof. Pan Jianfeng, Secretary of the Party Committee of Overseas Education College of JSU Huang Ting, and Dean of Overseas Education College of JSU Prof. Gao Jing, attended the seminar. The seminar was chaired by Prof. Gao Jing.Huang Ting reported the implementation of the spirit of the 20th National Congress of CPC, the "Quaternity" education system for international students in China under the guidance of CPC, and the effectiveness of training international students who understand and become friendly to China to serve the new practice of Chinese path to modernization in Jiangsu.More than ten international students from the China Africa Relations Research Association, an interest group for international students, participated in the seminar and shared their ideas in fluent Chinese. Wen Jing from Tanzania aspired to become an excellent pediatrician, hoping to bring the advanced medical expertise acquired at Jiangsu University back to his motherland and help young people and children in his hometown. Liu Bei from Botswana shared his understanding of "self-cultivation, a well-managed family, and the ability to administer the state and to bring peace to the nation" with his own experience. He is determined to learn Chinese wisdom and Chinese programs to work in the government after returning home. Peng Jia from Lesotho expressed his love for Chinese traditional culture and recited A Moonlit Night on the Spring River , a Tang Dynasty ancient poem affectionately and luxuriantly. Bai Shi from Cameroon introduced his study, sports, arts and other activities on campus. Entering the New Era, a passionate Chinese song, pushed the atmosphere of the seminar to a climax.
Zhou Ping fully acknowledged the educational development of our school's international students in China and highly evaluated the positive and upward spirit exhibited by our African students. Subsequently, Zhou Ping gave a special lecture. He pointed out that China is the largest developing country in the world, and Africa is the continent with the highest concentration of developing countries. Similar historical experiences and shared historical missions have closely linked China and Africa. China and Africa share a common destiny and have always been a community with a shared future. Under the current international situation, China and Africa need to strengthen unity and cooperation more than ever before. The root of China-Africa relations lies in the people and the source lies in exchanges. African international students are ambassadors of China-Africa exchanges. We hope that international students can achieve success in their studies and contribute to the joint construction of a new era of China-Africa community with a shared future.