Guests from the University of Venda and members from CICG Center for Europe and Africa pose for a group photo on 22 April (DONG NING) 

A five-member delegation from South Africa’s University of Venda visited the China International Communications Group’s Center for Europe and Africa (CEA) on the morning of 22 April. 

The delegation was led by Bernard Nthambeleni, vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Venda, and included Eric Maluta, director of the university’s Green Technology Confucius Institute (GTCI); Ge Ruihong, Chinese director of the GTCI; Thabo Dikgale, international relations and partnership manager of the University of Venda; and Wang Yuchen from the Vice-Chancellor’s Office.  

Zhao Lijun, CEA president; Zhang Juan, CEA deputy editor in chief; as well as representatives of CEA’s Africa Communications Department, attended the meeting.  

The two sides held in-depth discussions on prospective areas of collaboration, including international communications initiatives, cultural exchanges, and joint talent development. The dialogue culminated in a preliminary consensus on harnessing the advantages of both sides to further enhance China-South Africa friendship and people-to-people exchanges. 

CEA President Zhao Lijun presents a Letter of Appointment to Bernard Nthambeleni, vice-chancellor and principal of the University of Venda, on 22 April (DONG NING) 

To promote deeper cooperation between the two sides, Zhao presented Nthambeleni with a Letter of Appointment, officially naming him an advisor for the CEA. 

Located in Limpopo Province of northwestern South Africa, the University of Venda was established in 1982 and now has a total of some 16,000 students. As one of South Africa’s 26 public universities, it partnered with Hubei University of Technology in 2023 to establish the GTCI - the only Confucius Institute worldwide with a focus on green technology.