Five days after the Spring Festival, on February 21st, the whole country was enjoying the joyous and festive atmosphere. Institute for African Studies was privileged to have Mr. Gou Haodong and Ms. Sun Lihua, an outstanding married couple, visited IAS. Both of the two distinguished guests were prominent alumni graduated from GDUFS, and both have worked in various African countries for over 14 years. During the visit, IAS had a seminar on the improvement of African studies with the two guests. Dean of the Institute for International Education Liang Xuehong, Executive Vice President of IAS Mr. Liu Jisen, Director of Indonesian Language Department of the Faculty of Asian Languages and Cultures Ms. Xiao Lixian, President Assistant of IAS Ms. Huo Jiangtao and her assistant Ms. Li Nuo also attended the seminar. Mr. Liang hosted the activity.
Mr. Liu first introduced the background and the mission of IAS, and then elaborated on the work that IAS have done in 2017 and will do in 2018. Mr. Gou gave IAS his feedback on how to improve African studies.
During the Seminar
Mr. Gou has worked all across Africa and stayed in Sub-Saharan African countries, including Eritrea, Liberia, Botswana, Ethiopia and Tanzania, for a long time. When he shared his view on the Sino-African relationship in this new era, he reviewed the relationship between China and Africa in the past and his experience in Africa. The Sino-African relationship remains concrete and keeps generating fruitful outcomes, he said, the prospect is good. However, problems and difficulties also linger, mainly due to our insufficient understanding about Africa, the lack of voice in international community and inappropriate methods in solving cross-cultural disputes. What he is focusing now are the mistakes and lessons during the cooperation between China and Africa; only when we avoid risks can we truly succeed, Mr. Gou told IAS. His remarks reflected the meticulous consideration of an experienced diplomat.
IAS is currently conducting its researches in line with the market with its own practical academic feature; it is now becoming a gate that ushers entrepreneurs into Africa. This won the praise from Mr. Gou, and he encourages IAS to make better use of its geographical and academic advantage, so that it can contribute more to the cooperation between China and Africa.
Ms Sun Lihua gave IAS a book she wrote
Ms. Huo Jiangtao shared her proposal of constructing a Sino-African Cultural Exchange Center. The center will be mainly consisted of five sectors, namely Reading Africa, Into Africa, Meeting Africa, Artistic Africa and Night of Africa, accompanied by four other distinctive centers, including a youth startup center, a procurement center, a media center and a folk art exchange center. She suggested that a Sino-Africa Business, Trade and Culture Week can be organized during the spring Canton Fair.
Mr. Liang Xuehong agreed with Ms. Huo’s proposal and said that it will be viable. He stated that Institute for International Education will co-host a series of activities with IAS and Sino-African Cultural Exchange Center from March to May. He also suggested that a Sino-African Friendship Alliance Wechat group to be opened up.
The seminar lasted two hours, an hour longer than previously expected, since everyone was enjoying it. The advice from Mr. Gou and Ms. Sun was valuable for the future work of IAS. Everyone in this seminar contributed greatly to the development of IAS.
Before the seminar, Mr. Liu introduced the work and achievement that Guangdong Institute for International Strategies to Mr. Gou and Ms. Sun by showing them around the exhibition room. (Edit: Qiao Chen)
Mr. Gou and Ms. Sun in the Exhibition Room
