The opening ceremony of "Africa in Focus" campus tour at Beijing's University of International Business and Economics (From left to right: Oyinamono Francis, First Counsellor of the Embassy of the Gabonese Republic; Guo Xiaoyong, Executive Vice President of China International Publishing Group; Shi Jianjun, President of UIBE; Wang Gangyi, President & Editor-in-Chief of Beijing Review)  (PHOTO BY SHI GANG)

China and Africa exchanges among the youth got a shot in the arm on May 23, 2011 when the "Africa in Focus" campus tour was launched at the University of International Business and Economics (UIBE).

Co-hosted by Beijing Review and UIBE, the one-day event included lectures on Sino-African relations, a display of African art, screening of African movies, and a closing party at which both African artists and Chinese students performed.

Present at the opening ceremony were leaders of relevant government ministries, African diplomats, representatives from non-governmental organizations, media, university teachers and students.

"The exhibition and lectures are good for Chinese, especially young people to learn more about Africa and think globally," Tuli Nambahu, a 23-year-old Namibian student at UIBE, told ChinAfrica.

UIBE is the first stop of the "Africa in Focus" campus tour, which will be rolled out to other Chinese universities in the future. The tour aims to pool the unique resources of media and universities to enhance mutual understanding and cross-cultural exchanges between China and Africa.