On July 8th, an cultural exchange activity titled with “Youthtalk Wenzhou” was held in Yiyang Villag, Shanfu Town, Lucheng District, Wenzhou. Yiyang Village, which is rich in culture and packed with history, was given the honorable title of China’s top ten most beautiful villages in 2021, and was established as one of the first batch of piloted future countryside in Zhejiang Province in 2022. More than 30 individuals participated this cultural activity, including African overseas students, African youth representatives, Wenzhou overseas leaders ,government officials, experts, scholars and so on. By visiting, discussing and exchanging ideas, participants focused on cooperation between Chinese and African youths, promoting future rural construction and internationalization of Yiyang Village.Furthermore, an unveiling ceremony of “International Students Practice Base”was also carried out during the activity.

The activity was sponsored by Foreign Affairs Office of Wenzhou Municipal People's Government and Wenzhou People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and organized by the College of International Education, Wenzhou University, the People’s Government of Shanfu Town, Lucheng District,Wenzhou, and Wenzhou Overseas Media Center. A visit to the China-Gabon Friendship Hall marked the prelude, where participants learned about the origin of profound friendship between Gabon, Africa and Yiyang Village. Then a forum themed “Youthtalk Wenzhou -- Cooperation between Chinese and African Youths & Construction of International Future Countryside” was held. Wu Zhi’ou, the vice dean of the College of International Education, Wenzhou University, also gave detailed introductions on international students’ education, cultural exchange between China and foreign countries, and other relevant issues. 

Cheng Yingbing, secretary of the Party Committee of Shanfu, gives a welcome address

Vice Dean Wu Zhi’ou delivers a speech

During the exchange activity, participating guests also made splendid speeches on entrepreneurial innovation. The team of professor Cai Jianna from Wenzhou University analyzed the  advantages that Wenzhou has in resources on industry, education, the Internet and other aspects, and designed non-governmental cooperation projects between China and Africa, inspiring everyone greatly. Wenzhou Overseas leader Sun Jianqiang, general manager of Mozambique’s green industrial park, even sent a carefully-filmed video in which he demonstrated the corporation vision between Wenzhou and Africa, putting forward a number of constructive suggestions.

African youth representatives PRECY and ADOFO MICHAEL ADJEI described their study and work experience in Wenzhou. Both of them regarded their experience in Wenzhou as fruitful and fulfilling.

For improving Wenzhou’s globalization and development, the present guests offered advice and suggestions enthusiastically. Advisors from the Exit & Entry Administration of Wenzhou Public Security Bureau discussed with African youths on relevant issues as work permit, residence permit, visa, employment, etc.

Unveiling ceremony of the “International Students Practice Base”

Lou Lioafan,the deputy director of Foreign Affairs Office of Wenzhou Municipal People's Government, stated that the friendship between Wenzhou and Africa is long-lasting and well-established. Since 2008, Wenzhou has successively established friendly relationship as sister cities with Wauwan in Namibia, Port-Gentil in Gabon and Kumasi in Ghana. And we have carried out a series of friendly-exchange activities. Next, Wenzhou will strengthen cross-boarder e-commerce, vocational training, people-to-people exchanges to promote cooperation with Africa, with the hope of African students being able to contribute to China-Africa relationships after graduating and returning to their home country, becoming China-Africa friendly-cooperation ambassadors. We also hope overseas students with expertise and professional skills to stay in Wenzhou and start new business, promote friendly exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa in every field, boost Wenzhou’s rural revitalization, and build a future countryside with an international style.

Extended reading

The project “Youthtalk Wenzhou”was launched in March, 2021 at Wenzhou Overseas Media Center. Through carrying out series of cultural exchanges, it attracts global talents to create a more open, tolerant and generous image of Wenzhou as an internationalized city, improving the city’s international services, and providing internationalized intelligence support for Wenzhou’s ongoing development.