Academics from Uganda's Makerere University and various Chinese institutions, including Xiangtan University, have convened in Kampala, Uganda, for a two-day conference aimed at promoting cultural exchange and mutual understanding between China and Africa. Buyinza Mukadasi, representing Makerere University's vice chancellor, highlighted that the conference, held on Monday, marks the 10th anniversary of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University.
Founded in December 2014 through a collaboration between Xiangtan University and Makerere University, the institute has become a pivotal platform for cultural exchange, fostering connections between China and Uganda while promoting global citizenship. At the conference, scholars will explore and present research on language, literature, and cultural interactions between Chinese and African communities.
Pan Biling, president of Xiangtan University, addressed the conference via video link, underscoring Xiangtan’s pivotal role in trade, cultural exchanges, and technical cooperation between China and Africa, including China and Uganda. Pan emphasized that strengthening cooperation between China and Africa could substantially advance efforts to tackle global challenges such as poverty reduction, welfare improvement, environmental enhancement, and the preservation of cultural diversity.
Chinese Ambassador to Uganda, Zhang Lizhong, noted that people-to-people exchanges have played a vital role in enhancing bilateral relations. Since the Confucius Institute was established at Makerere University, approximately 68 Chinese teachers have come to Uganda, training over 20,000 Ugandans in Mandarin and 177 local Mandarin instructors. "Bridges are built that bring our people and hearts closer", said Zhang, noting that cooperation in education, healthcare, and vocational training has produced fruitful results. He also mentioned that African countries, including Uganda have positively received China's Global Civilization Initiative.
"It is hoped that taking the opportunity of the upcoming Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing, China and Uganda can consolidate the traditional friendship, enhance pragmatic cooperation, and further elevate the bilateral relations", said Zhang. Gilbert Gumoshabe, Ugandan director of the Confucius Institute at Makerere University, told Xinhua that the academic symposium plays a crucial role in deepening cultural understanding between the two peoples.
"As the academic world, we expect more mutual strengthening of our relations. By understanding our cultures, by understanding the cultural values of the Chinese makes the world a better place because it is mutual understanding not imposition", Gumoshabe said. The conference has seen participation from professors, doctors, and deans representing Nanjing University, Shanghai Normal University, Zhejiang Normal University, Hohai University, and Xiangtan University in China.
