A delegation led by Mohammed Belhocine, commissioner for Education, Science, Technology and Innovation of the African Union Commission (AUC), visited Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU) on Sept 6. The delegation included representatives from the African Union (AU) and its affiliated Pan African University (PAU).   

Mohammed Belhocine (L), commissioner for ESTI of the AUC, talks with Yang Dan (R), BFSU president and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Yang Dan, BFSU president and deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee, and Jia Wenjian, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, warmly welcomed the delegation and provided an overview of BFSU. 

Yang expressed his enthusiasm for potential collaborations between China and Africa, as well as between BFSU and PAU. He highlighted the opportunities for cross-disciplinary and cross-sector cooperation and emphasized the importance of joint efforts in conducting programs on country and area studies.

Representatives from BFSU, AU and PAU pose for a group photo. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Belhocine acknowledged the immense potential for cooperation between BFSU and PAU. The AU theme for 2024 will be devoted to education, the commissioner said, adding that he hopes that his visit to BFSU will create more opportunities for future educational collaboration between China and Africa, thus contributing to mutual benefits and sustainable development. 

Students majoring in Amharic, Swahili, Malagasy, Zulu and Hausa languages at BFSU's School of African Studies recite African poetry. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Jia Wenjian, deputy secretary of the CPC BFSU committee and vice-president of the university, speaks at the discussion session. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Jia highlighted BFSU's role in nurturing talents who are proficient in African languages and familiar with the cultures and conditions of African countries. He expressed the university's commitment to practical cooperation with the AU to promote the prosperity of education in China and Africa. 

Mohammed Belhocine, commissioner for ESTI of the AUC, speaks at the discussion session. [Photo/bfsu.edu.cn] 

Belhocine emphasized the importance of language proficiency as the foundation for cultural exchanges between China and Africa. He acknowledged the power of languages and cultural integration he experienced at BFSU and looked forward to deepening Sino-African cooperation in education, technology and innovation. 

During the discussion session, the delegation learned about BFSU’s international exchange and cooperation projects, the construction of Confucius Institutes, as well as faculty members and students’ participation in the United Nation’s educational innovation projects in Africa and their research achievements in African studies and unique perspectives on studying in China and Africa.

The delegation also visited the School of Chinese Language and Literature and the BFSU Artificial Intelligence and Human Languages Lab.