On October 12, Jiangsu-Africa Cooperation Conference (China-Africa Local Government Cooperation Forum Jiangsu Sub-forum) convened in Nantong city, Jiangsu province.

Chimezie Ogu, consul general of Nigeria in Shanghai, Yang Jing, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Jiangsu Provincial People’s Government, Pan Jianhua, vice mayor of Nantong, and other government and enterprise representatives from the province attended the conference.

Shen Lian, deputy director of the Foreign Affairs Office of Changzhou Municipal People’s Government, was invited to share Changzhou’s cooperation experiences with African countries.

He briefed the participants on Changzhou’s fruitful achievements in cooperation with its two African friendship cities, namely Beau Bassin - Rose Hill in Mauritius and Dar es Salaam in Tanzania.

“We have achieved outstanding results in education and healthcare cooperation, people-to-people exchanges, and city image promotion over the past two decades,� said Shen.

He also mentioned several significant projects, including the first Luban Studio co-established by Changzhou College of Information Technology (CCIT) and Chinese Culture and International Education Exchange Centre (CCIEEC) in South Africa, Changzhou’s medical aid team to Tanzania during 2013 and 2015, and the 2017 “A Tale of Two Cities� program for citizen delegation to visit Mauritius.

David Utile, mayor of Beau Bassin - Rose Hill, delivered a speech via video, stating that the city has sent 12 students to Changzhou University through an exchange program for outstanding students.