On June 26, 2019, a delegation of scholars from African English-speaking countries visited Xi’an International Studies University (XISU) accompanied by the heads of China-Africa Institute, and participated in the symposium about “the Belt and Road Initiative and China-Africa Language and Cultural Exchange” held by XISU. The meeting was hosted by Ji Wenkai, Deputy Director of the Collaborative Innovation Center of XISU.
Li Xinfeng, Executive Vice-President of China-Africa Institute and Director of Institute of West-Asian and African Studies (IWAAS), Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), and Dang Zhengsheng, Vice President of XISU, presented the symposium and made the speeches.
In his speech, Vice President Dang Zhengsheng listed typical examples of friendly exchanges between China and Africa in different historical periods and introduced the new development opportunities brought by the Belt and Road Initiative to foreign language universities. He also said that XISU looks forward to deepening cooperation with visiting universities and China-Africa Institute, working in the same direction and leveraging different kinds of strengths.
Professor Jairos Kangira, Leader of the delegation and President of School of Humanities and Society of University of Namibia, in his speech, thought highly of the achievements of China-Africa cooperation on people-to-people and cultural exchanges. As the scholars focusing on the cultural studies, the members of the delegation hoped to expand the cooperation on the field of people-to-people and cultural exchanges with China-Africa Institute, CASS and XISU, and jointly tell the stories of China-Africa cooperation better and better.
The experts and scholars from China-Africa Institute, XISU, and the universities of Namibia, Zimbabwe, Nigeria, Botswana, South Africa, Tanzania and Uganda, had the in-depth discussions on the issues about the Belt and Road Initiative and China-Africa language and cultural exchanges. The heated discussions and harmonious atmosphere have deepened the mutual understanding and friendly exchanges between Chinese and African scholars.