Since 1972, the former Chinese ambassador Cheng Tao has worked in more than 40 embassies in Africa, including Gabon, Mali, Benin and Morocco. That must be some kind of record. Before retiring from his post as Chinese Ambassador to Morocco at the end of 2006, Cheng had been engaged with Africa for 34 years and spent 16 years working on the continent. "Africa is painted as a continent of misery, but in fact, it is a continent of hope with boundless potential," said Cheng, adding that the African people are industrious, brave, honest, and hospitable.

Cheng recalled the moment he first set foot in Gabon many years ago, and the wave of hot air that greeted him as he stepped off the plane. "In Africa, the climate is more consistent, with hot weather year-round, and local people told me that Coca-Cola plastic bottles buried in the desert would definitely deform next day because of the weather."

Gabon made a positive impression on the Chinese diplomat, where he spent five and a half years. Cheng said he was given the opportunity to serve in Africa, and he believes it was fate that led him to the continent.

Integration

Cheng told ChinAfrica that he had little contact with his family when he was in Africa, where working and living conditions were tough. His son had just enrolled in kindergarten when he first left for Africa, but when he returned home years later, his son was a fifth-grade student in the primary school. He felt like a stranger to his own family.

Despite the backward working conditions in Africa, the hospitable African people captivated Cheng as he spent his free time exploring the unique African lifestyle. Cheng enjoyed visiting the beach at low tide, collecting an impressive collection of sea shells. He was also much in demand to teach kungfu. "Every Chinese, in the eye of African people, is able to do kungfu."

In addition to his busy work schedule, Cheng had many hobbies in Africa, like travel, photography and fishing. He also took a great interest in African cuisine, including Ethiopia's Injera, Mali's roasted whole lamb, Morocco's roasted camel, as well as the handcrafts, like black wood carving, stone carving, bronze sculpture and etchings. Many of these handcrafts today adorn the walls of his home.

High praise

Life in Africa so far away from home was often tough, and required much sacrifice and dedication, but the ambassador said he had no regrets about his diplomatic life there because of the many friendships he made.

When Cheng left Morocco in 2006, he was conferred a medal by the king of Morocco. "It is common practice in many countries," he said modestly, adding that is high praise for a diplomat's dedicated work in a country. He said that when he left Mali, as the Chinese ambassador there, the Mali president along with his cabinet members had come to see him off, leaving the French ambassador to comment that he had never received such an honor.

After he retired from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2007, Cheng began to work for the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs as the deputy director, in charge of people's diplomacy in Europe. Even after he retired, he is still engaged in promoting Sino-African relations. He has many titles, such as Director of Center for African Studies of China Foundation for International Studies, Vice Chairman of the Association of Former Diplomats of China (AFDC), and Executive Director of AFDC's Round-Table Conference on China-Africa Cooperation. The work of these organizations, in his opinion, is extremely important as they are compliments to the government's diplomatic policy between China and Africa. Cheng hopes he can continue to play a positive role in strengthening China-Africa relations for as long as possible.