'Through Jinhua University, we focus on areas such as research, academic discussions, and skills training, and we've established a new multilevel, multifield, and multiform pattern of China-Africa education cooperation,' Zhu stated.
To date, Jinhua City has trained over 30,000 African students from more than 50 countries. Zhejiang Normal Universityin Jinhua is home to the first comprehensive African Research Institute in a Chinese university and has hosted nearly 300 training programs for over 6,000 African officials, experts, and scholars. This has cultivated a significant number of African experts in China and China experts in Africa.
The city's educational collaboration includes partnerships like the Morocco-Yiwu Business School and Jinhua Polytechnic Universities. Additionally, Jinhua Polytechnic has partnered with Musanze Integrated Polytechnic in Rwanda's Northern Province. Zhu expressed optimism about this year's FOCAC Summit, seeing it as an opportunity to deepen such collaborations.
'In April, the university welcomed 30 international students from Rwanda's Musanze College [IPRC Musanze]. These students have quickly adapted to their studies in Jinhua and have strengthened their confidence in the future of vocational education,' Zhu noted.
'Looking ahead, we take this Beijing Summit FOCAC as an opportunity to further deepen and expand pragmatic cooperation with African countries in all aspects. We will continue to polish businesses as part of China Africa cooperation and make great contributions for building a China-Africa high level community with a shared future,' added Zhu.
On March 28, 2024, Jinhua signed a Sister Cities Agreement with Musanze District in Rwanda's Northern Province, marking the first such agreement between China and Rwanda and symbolizing a new chapter of friendship and cooperation.
In the same month, Jinhua Polytechnic, signed a five-year agreement for an exchange program that initially allowed students from IPRC Musanze departing for China to study for two years in Rwanda and one year in China for an Advanced Diploma. This agreement followed a long term partnership between the two side, spanning more than a decade.
Zhejiang Province is one of China's most economically developed regions, and has forged agreements with various African countries in trade, education, and development.
Chen Jiangfeng, Deputy Director of Zhejiang's Department of Foreign Affairs, highlighted that Zhejiang has launched two consecutive three-year action plans on Zhejiang-Africa cooperation. 'These efforts have led to new progress and results, particularly in frequent people-to-people exchanges,' he said.
Zhejiang has established 31 sister relationships with African countries, including Rwanda, ensuring friendly relations at the provincial, municipal, and district levels. In recent years, delegations led by top Zhejiang officials have visited Africa, co-hosting events and signing major cooperation agreements with local governments.
Economic and trade ties between Zhejiang and Africa are yielding significant results. In 2023, bilateral trade reached USD 53.9 billion, with Zhejiang's investment in Africa totaling USD 4.6 billion. In the first half of 2024, two-way trade amounted to USD 27.88 billion, with a 12.9% year-on-year increase in imports from Africa, totaling USD 5.55 billion.
Educational and cultural exchanges are also flourishing. More than 20 Zhejiang universities have formed partnerships with African institutions, and eight Confucius Institutes have been established across the continent, training 120,000 Chinese language talents. Zhejiang has also provided vocational training for over 2,800 individuals from more than 160 African companies, and over 6,500 African students are currently studying in Zhejiang.
Medical cooperation is another pillar of Zhejiang's engagement with Africa. For 55 consecutive years, Zhejiang has sent medical aid teams to African countries, including Mali and Namibia. In 2022 and 2023 alone, Zhejiang dispatched 110 medical personnel to Africa, delivering services to 183,800 people. These teams also provided free clinics in remote areas and promoted traditional Chinese medicine while conducting over 70 medical training sessions and 15 academic meetings.
Théophile Niyitegeka
