On November 24th to 25th, 2017, The African Union(AU) Research Center and Center of African Union Studies, Tianjin University of Technology and Education jointly organized the International Symposium on Sino-African Educational Exchange and Capacity Cooperation at Tianjin. During the two-day conference, more than 100 experts and scholars from China and Africa conducted in-depth discussions. Professor Zhao, Director of the Center for West Africa Studies of UESTC delivered keynote speech at the conference.

Professor Zhao, Director of the Centre for West Africa Studies of UESTC gave a report on the topic “Research on Risks and Countermeasures in China-Africa International Capacity Cooperation”. Based on the status quo of China-Africa capacity development and systematically demonstrating the reasons for its cooperation. She used the PEST analysis method to screen the three-level risk influencing factors affecting China-Africa international capacity cooperation from the four dimensions of politics, economy, culture and technology. Professor Zhao's report was well received by representatives of participating scholars.

During the conference, Professor Zhao met with representatives of African scholars such as Dr. Beatrice Njenga, Professor Li Anshan and Dean Bekurestion H/Silassie. Both parties expressed their willingness to cooperate, reached consensus on exchange visits and established long-term cooperative relationships.