China-Africa youth find common ground

From watching traditional performances at the Fire Palace, a historic cultural landmark in Changsha, to learning about the history of Chinese ceramics at the Changsha Tongguan Kiln Museum, each experience deepened her interest in the city.

The visit also reinforced her belief that cultural exchange should be a two-way process.

"In Sierra Leone, we value our cultural identity, just as China values its cultural identity and traditions," she said. "I was excited to see Chinese people embracing African culture."

For the participants, these experiences highlighted how cultural exchange involves not only discovering similarities between civilizations but also appreciating their distinctive traditions and learning from one another.

Beyond exploring cultural connections, the young participants also discovered opportunities for scientific cooperation that could help address challenges in their home countries.

After visiting the Hunan Hybrid Rice Research Center and Yuelushan Laboratory Cluster Area, El Housseini Hilal was impressed by China's efforts to share agricultural innovations with other countries.

"What surprised me most was that China had this agricultural breakthrough and didn't decide to keep it to itself, but decided to share it with the world," he said.

He was especially encouraged to learn about research centers in African countries where Chinese experts help train local researchers and share agricultural knowledge and technology.

For Carole Sanogo, a 23-year-old environmental science and engineering student from Burkina Faso studying at Tiangong University in Tianjin, the visits highlighted the potential of scientific innovation to address environmental challenges.

She was particularly impressed by newly developed rice varieties that accumulate less cadmium from contaminated soil.

"As an environmental researcher, I found this innovation remarkable because these low-cadmium crops offer a groundbreaking solution for agricultural safety on heavy-metal-polluted soils," she said.

Kateya also saw the potential of agricultural research to address a pressing concern in his home country: food security.

The visit to the hybrid rice research center left him amazed by how tiny rice seeds could help feed millions of people.

"I hope academic exchanges will enable more African students to study at Chinese universities, acquire practical skills and return home to contribute to agricultural development," he said.

For the participants, scientific cooperation offered more than an opportunity to learn about China's achievements. It also provided a chance to acquire knowledge and skills they could apply back home.