To commemorate World Peace Day 2024, an international seminar titled "Rediscovering the Ancient Routes and Interactions between China and Africa" was jointly held by UNESCO, the Beijing International Peace Culture Foundation, and AFROSPECTIVES, A Global Africa Initiative, at the Peace Garden Museum in Beijing on September 19, 2024. Dr. Shabahan, the representative of UNESCO; LI Ruohong, President of the China World Peace Foundation; and Dr Ali Moussa Iye, Chair of AFROSPECTIVES, attended the seminar and delivered speeches. KANG Jincheng, Strategic Expert from ICEE, and XU Lihui, Assistant to the Secretary General of ICEE, were also invited to the seminar.

LI Ruohong, Shabahan, Ali

KANG Jincheng presented a talk entitled "International Cooperation in Engineering Education for Leapfrog Development in Africa." He emphasized that the current period marks the most favorable time in the history of China-Africa relations. At the recent 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Summit in Beijing, over 50 African leaders convened to discuss a new era of partnership. KANG identified the shortage of skilled talent, particularly in engineering and technical fields, as the biggest challenge facing African countries in their development. He advocated for robust international cooperation in engineering education between China and Africa, with a focus on fostering engineering and technical talent in African nations to drive the rapid advancement of their economies. In this effort, businesses, especially small and medium-sized enterprises, will play a crucial role in creating local employment and enhancing the skills of the engineering workforce.

KANG Jincheng delivers a Speech

The seminar brought together numerous scholars from Africa and China to explore the historical ties between countries along the Silk Road and China, with a particular focus on the cultural and commercial interactions between China and Africa. The event aimed to deepen mutual understanding and strengthen the friendship between the peoples of China and Africa by shedding light on their ancient historical relationship.