On September 5, 2024, the annual conference of the "China-Africa Consortium of Universities Exchange Mechanism" was inaugurated at the Beijing International Convention Center.

As a supporting event of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit, the conference's theme was "China-Africa Higher Education Cooperation and Development in the Digital Age." It aimed to foster a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future through collaboration in higher education, sending a powerful message of progress from the Global South.

Representatives from 35 universities across 19 African countries, including Tanzania, Nigeria, South Africa, Kenya, Ethiopia, Tunisia, Ghana, Uganda, Rwanda, Cameroon, Malawi, Benin, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Mozambique, and Somalia, along with delegates from over 50 Chinese universities, attended the event. The conference was organized by Beijing Foreign Studies University (BFSU), with support from the Chinese Secretariat and Chinese Institute of the China-Africa Consortium of Universities Exchange Mechanism, and co-organized by Beijing Waiyan Online Digital Technology Co., Ltd. The event received academic guidance from the China Association of Higher Education and the Association of African Universities.

The opening ceremony was attended by Wu Yan, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education of the People's Republic of China; Semme Edith Delphine Emmanuel Adouki, Minister of Higher Education, Scientific Research, and Technological Innovation of the Republic of the Congo; Zhou Yu, Vice President of the China Association of Higher Education, China Director of China-Africa Consortium of Universities Exchange Mechanism, and Academician of the Chinese Academy of Engineering; Haja Ramatulai Wurie, Minister of Technical and Higher Education of the Republic of Sierra Leone; and Yusupha Touray, Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Higher Education, Research, Science and Technology of the Republic of The Gambia. The ceremony was chaired by Lin Huiqing, Vice President of the China Association of Higher Education and former Vice Minister of the Ministry of Education of People's Republic of China.

Wu Yan emphasized the importance of China-Africa educational cooperation in the digital age. He noted that, at this new historical juncture, it is crucial to adhere to the guidance of President Xi Jinping's key speeches, fully recognizing the brand value of the China-Africa Consortium of Universities Exchange Mechanism. Wu called for strengthening substantive cooperation in higher education between China and Africa, building a brand for educational exchanges, and advancing the digitalization of China-Africa higher education.

Semme Edith Delphine Emmanuel Adouki highlighted the positive outcomes of China-Africa higher education cooperation and stressed the need for both sides to jointly embrace new paradigms in higher education suited to the current era. She recognized the China-Africa Consortium of Universities Exchange Mechanism as a valuable platform for promoting educational reform across African nations.

Zhou Yu outlined a blueprint for mutual support and collaboration and expressed his commitment to further expanding the network of China-Africa higher education cooperation, fostering international talent, and strengthening think tank exchanges to support the China-Africa community with a shared future.

Haja Ramatulai Wurie expressed her heartfelt gratitude for the educational support provided by the Chinese government to African countries in recent years, noting the long-standing history of China-Africa cooperation. She expressed optimism that the China-Africa Consortium of Universities Exchange Mechanism will deepen educational exchanges in the digital era.

Yusupha Touray shared Gambia's efforts to promote higher education reform through digital technology and discussed the prospects of China-Africa cooperation in facilitating Gambia's transformation in the higher education sector.

Following the opening ceremony, a signing ceremony was held for major China-Africa educational cooperation projects, and a release event for significant achievements took place. Fourteen China-Africa educational cooperation projects were signed, and important outcomes such as the China-Africa Higher Education Cooperation Case Collection and the China-Africa Consortium of Universities Exchange Mechanism Report on the Digitalization of Education were officially unveiled. Additionally, the "China-Africa Consortium of Universities Exchange Mechanism Digital Cooperation Platform" was launched.

Wang Dinghua, Secretary of the CPC BFSU Committee and China Executive Director of the China-Africa Consortium of Universities Exchange Mechanism, and Olusola Oyewole Bandele, Secretary-General of the Association of African Universities and Africa Executive Director of the China-Africa Consortium of Universities Exchange Mechanism, both presented work reports on the mechanism.

The day also featured three academic dialogue sessions, where university leaders and invited guests from China and Africa exchanged views and experiences on topics such as "Educational Cooperation and Knowledge Sharing in the Digital Age," "Digital Education and Cross-Cultural Communication," and "China-Africa Cooperation and Talent Development in the Digital Age." Participants discussed their shared vision and friendship while planning the future of China-Africa higher education cooperation.

As the Chinese proverb goes, "The road ahead is long, but with solidarity, we will go far." BFSU will continue advancing its strategic goals in global languages, cultures, and governance, while deepening cooperation in education, research, and cultural exchange between China and Africa. Together, we aim to cultivate high-caliber talent with international vision and global competitiveness, contributing wisdom and strength to building a community with a shared future for mankind.