What kinds of exchange is IASZNU involved with at home and abroad?

IASZNU works closely with other domestic research institues on Africa, and has carried out joint research and graduate programs with think tanks and universities from over 20 African countries. Erastus Mwencha, Vice President of the African Union Commission, and many officials from other international organizations and think tanks visit our institute. We have conducted joint research projects with African scholars in the fields of politics and security, China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, [and] education and human resources development.

China's first Africa-oriented business school was established at your university in 2010. What programs do you offer?

The school is aimed at training professional business management personnel who understand Africa and China. With the support of China Scholarship Council, the school enrolls students for master degrees in China-Africa Business Management. It also provides vocational training for African enterprises in China and Africa-based Chinese enterprises.

Introduction to ZNU

> Founded in 1956, ZNU is a comprehensive university based in Jinhua City in Zhejiang Province. With a particular strength in teacher training, ZNU consists of 19 colleges offering 61 undergraduate programs. It has an enrolment of over 25,700 undergraduates, 5,020 postgraduates, and 15,000 adult-education students. Currently, around 400 foreign students are studying at the university.

Since the 1990s, ZNU has been making efforts to promote Sino-African educational cooperation. In 1996, it founded the Chinese Language Center in Cameroon, which was upgraded in 2007 to the Confucius Institute. In 2002, ZNU began offering training programs on how to provide aid in Africa and established the Base for Education Assistance and Development in 2004. ZNU hosted the First Sino-African University Presidents Forum in 2006, and founded its Institute of African Studies the next year.

In 2010, ZNU's African Museum was completed. It's the first of its kind on the Chinese mainland to showcase African civilization. More than 500 pieces of various traditional African artworks are on display, including musical instruments, agricultural tools, masks, sculptures and garments. It is open to the public on Saturdays and Sundays, and attracts many visitors.

Under MOE's "China-Africa Universities 20+20 Cooperation Plan," ZNU partners the University of Yaoundé I in Cameroon. In 2010, five scholars from both schools jointly conducted research and completed a report titled Studies on Sino-Cameroonian Cooperation in Education, Culture, Economy and Technology in the New Period. Professor Bitjaa Kody from the University of Yaoundé I was invited to ZNU and gave several lectures on topics such as Cameroon's social and economic development, higher education, and original language and culture in the African state.

Furthering synergy, Tsala Ndzomo Guy, Vice President of the University of Yaoundé I, visited ZNU last November after ZNU had sent its own delegation a month prior. The two sides signed a memorandum of understanding on cooperation, in which they agreed to set up a business training center at the University of Yaoundé I. Other plans include short-term training programs, scholar and student exchange programs, as well as joint research.

In addition, ZNU also hosted the First China-Africa Think Tanks Forum in October 2011. The meeting focused on establishing a mechanism that will help Chinese and African think tanks to cooperate and exchange ideas on Sino-African relations.