In response to President Xi Jinping’s “Eight Actions” initiative on China-Africa cooperation, and to further strengthen cooperation and exchanges between our university and African universities, from May 26 to June 3, 2019, at the invitations of Kenya’s University of Nairobi and Kenyatta University, Marian Nguwabi University in the Republic of Congo, Zhang Shiqiang, president of University of Jinan, led a group of three to have a friendly visit to the above-mentioned universities.

During the visit in Kenya’s University of Nairobi, President Zhang Shiqiang met with Professor Peter Mbithi, President of University of Nairobi, and Professor Julius A. Ogeng’ ojiaohous, Vice President, and relevant staff from International Office, Confucius Institute and related schools also attended the meeting. President Zhang Shiqiang gave an overall introduction of our university in education and research, discipline setting and leading majors. He said that the friendship between China and African countries has been renewed for a long time, and cooperation in economy, culture and education has been close. UJN has all along been very supportive and actively involved in exchanges and cooperation with universities in African countries. University of Nairobi is a renowned university in Kenya with high-level education and research. He hoped that with this visit as an opportunity, the two sides will enhance mutual trust, establish friendly and cooperative relations, promote students exchanges between two universities, and carry out communication and research cooperation among teachers in the fields of engineering and education. High-level talents from University of Nairobi are welcomed to join the research team of UJN to strengthen exchanges in Sino-African cooperative research.

During the visit, the delegation visited the Confucius Institute at University of Nairobi and held talks with Chinese and foreign deans and teachers to understand the characteristics of Confucius Institutes. The Confucius Institute at University of Nairobi is the first Confucius Institute established in Africa and has been awarded “World's Advanced Confucius Institute” for many times.

During the visit to Kenya’s Kenyatta University, President Zhang Shiqiang met with Professor Paul Kuria Wainaina, President of Kenyatta University, and Professor John Okumu, Vice President of Kenyatta University. President Zhang Shiqiang said that, since the establishment of friendly cooperative relations between UJN and Kenyatta University in 2013, the two sides have cooperated in students exchanges. It is hoped that through this visit, both sides will deepen their understanding of each other's leading majors and disciplines.

During the visit, the delegation visited the School of Engineering of Kenyatta University and the Confucius Institute there, receiving a warm welcome. At the Confucius Institute, the delegation held a cordial discussion with the Chinese and foreign deans and teachers, praised the teachers for their active participation in the spread of Chinese language and Chinese culture, and encouraged them to continuously contribute to the development of Chinese education.

During the visit to the Marian Nguwabi University in the Republic of Congo, President Zhang Shiqiang met with Professor Jean-Rosaire IBARA, President of Marian Nguwabi University, and also its Academic Vice President. Both sides indicated that they will strengthen their cooperation in science and research, take joint research on China and Africa as a carrier to deepen the exchanges of teachers and students between the two universities.

After the talks, President Zhang Shiqiang and President Jean-Rosaire IBARA together signed China-Africa Research Center Cooperation Agreement between the two universities and unveiled the China-Africa Research Center. The establishment of the China-Africa Research Center aims to connect with Africa Research Center of UJN, promote UJN’s research on Africa, and at the same time promote the research on China by Marian Ngwabi University, strengthening cooperation and exchanges between the two universities, and enhancing mutual understanding between the people in both countries.

During the visit, President Zhang Shiqiang along with his entourage also visited Mr. Ma Fulin, Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of Congo. They had deep discussions on the faculty of the Confucius Institute at Marian Nguwabi University, the construction of the Confucius Institute building and communications between scholars in the two countries. President Zhang Shiqiang invited Ambassador Ma Fulin to visit UJN to help Africa Research Center of UJN to carry out research on related topics, make research content concise and form distinctive characteristics.

In the new era when China and Africa form comprehensive strategic cooperation, UJN delegation’s visiting African universities, actively carrying out cooperation with Kenya’s high-level universities, further consolidating and deepening comprehensive cooperation with Marion Ngwabi University in the Republic of Congo, and founding China-Africa Research Center, will to some extent promote exchanges in the field of education between China and Africa, contributing to the implementation of China-Africa friendly exchanges, all-round cooperation, and the building of a community of shared future in the new era.

Original Article From: http://en.hebmu.edu.cn/a/newsevents/index.html

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