China-Africa youth find common ground

Sparking cooperation

For El Housseini Hilal, the visit to the Changsha Tongguan Kiln Museum revealed not only historical connections but also opportunities for future cultural collaboration.

He was struck by the similarities between some Chinese ceramics and pottery produced in his home country.

"Some of the pottery shares traditional Chinese elements, such as blue-and-white glazing and intricate geometric and floral patterns," he said. "Yet Moroccan pottery has its own distinctive colors and Islamic-inspired designs. But I believe these similarities and differences could inspire artistic collaboration and help introduce Moroccan heritage to Chinese audiences."

Inspired by the visit, El Housseini Hilal proposed establishing a creative market during the youth dialogue, where Chinese and African students could showcase their artwork and jointly develop cultural products.

He also hopes to introduce more Moroccan products to the Chinese market, creating opportunities for cultural exchange and business cooperation.

Jeronimo Kateya, a Namibian student pursuing a master's degree in digital communication at the Communication University of China (CUC), also noticed similarities between Chinese ceramics and traditional pottery-making in his country.

The visit prompted him to reflect on the importance of preserving indigenous knowledge and passing traditional skills on to future generations.

"We have similar knowledge and skills, but ours may be more traditional," he said. "Chinese museums inspire me that we need to revive these traditional practices and bring them into the modern world."

For Bintu Sudan Sesay, a student from Sierra Leone pursuing a master's degree in journalism and digital communication at CUC, her first visit to Changsha offered an opportunity to explore the city's cultural heritage.