From September 27 to 30, a delegation led by Prof. Prénam Houzou‑Mouzou, Rector of the University of Kara, Togo, visited the University of Electronic Science and Technology of China (UESTC) to attend events marking the University’s 70th Anniversary. Prof. Samuel Kwaku Bonsu, Rector of the Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration (GIMPA), also attended the ceremony as an observer. The delegation conducted in‑depth four‑day visits covering discipline co‑construction, joint talent training, digital governance and people‑to‑people and cultural exchanges, advancing the China‑Africa university partnership toward substantive progress.Following the 70th‑Anniversary Ceremony on September 28, Prof. Hu Jun, President of UESTC, met with the delegation headed by Rector Prénam Houzou‑Mouzou of the University of Kara. Against the backdrop of China‑Africa people‑to‑people and cultural exchanges, both sides reviewed previous achievements in higher‑education exchanges between China and Togo. They held in‑depth consultations on digital governance, think‑tank development, faculty‑student exchanges, and joint scientific research, and discussed a prospective cooperation agreement. Gao Shiquan, Director of the Office of International Cooperation and Exchange, was present at the meeting. Prof. Zhao Shurong, Director of the Center for West African Studies, together with officials in charge of international cooperation and international student programs from the School of Public Affairs and Administration, accompanied the talks.

Beyond anniversary events, the delegation visited the School of Public Affairs and Administration for special site tours and panel discussions. Zheng Yutao, Party Secretary of the School, received the guests. Wang Ji, Chief of the Student Affairs Section, Wen Ergeng, laboratory staff member, and Xue Yudan, foreign‑affairs secretary, joined the reception. The delegation had cordial discussions with international students studying at the school. They toured the Key Laboratory for Intelligence and Digital Public Governance to learn about its platform development, research outputs and talent‑training practices in digital government, public governance and big‑data‑enabled social governance. Practical exchanges were carried out on the digital‑transformation needs of West African countries and the laboratory’s development experience.

The delegation then proceeded to the Center for Digital Culture and Media Studies and visited the China‑Africa Base for International Academic Exchange and Joint Talent Training. Co‑established by UESTC’s Center for West African Studies, the Center for Digital Culture and Media Studies, and the Gulf of Guinea International Museum of African Art in Togo, the Base was officially inaugurated in 2025 in the witness of Wang Min, Chinese Ambassador to Togo. It serves as a key cross‑border platform for UESTC to implement China‑Africa cultural exchanges and deepen educational and cultural collaboration with West Africa. During the panel discussion, the delegation learned about the Base’s operating models and project outcomes in joint research, cultural digitization and China‑Africa joint talent training, and expressed hopes for resource sharing via this platform.

On September 29, a second‑level inspector from the Sichuan Provincial People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries held working talks with the delegation. Both sides exchanged views on deepening China‑Togo non‑governmental friendship and expanding local‑university‑linked channels for China‑Africa people‑to‑people exchanges. They expected university‑level cooperation to consolidate public support for people‑to‑people friendship between Sichuan Province and Togo.

Taking place in the 2026 China‑Africa Year of People‑to‑People Exchanges, this visit constitutes a major foreign‑affairs activity of UESTC’s 70th anniversary celebrations. It further consolidated the cooperative foundation between UESTC and the University of Kara. Both sides will focus on digital governance and keep promoting pragmatic initiatives including joint scientific research, scholar exchanges, joint talent training and cultural communication, contributing university‑level wisdom and strength to building a high‑level China‑Africa community with a shared future.

Text by CWAS team

Photos by Xupeifeng, Luohongquan

Edited by Zhangruiheng

Contributed by: School of Public Administration & Center for West African Studies of UESTC, University of Electronic Scienceand Technology of China