In order to further implement the international development goals of CUEB, and enhance the exchange and cooperation with high-level universities in Africa, North Africa in particular, Wang Chuansheng, Vice President of CUEB, led a delegation to Benha University and Suez Canal University in Egypt and University Mohammed V de Rabat in Morocco from December 23 to 30. The visit was intended for exchanging two parties’ views on strengthening cooperation with universities in Africa on the cultivation of high-level talents of economics and management, short-term training in China, the teaching of Chinese as a foreign language (TCFL), academic communication and scientific cooperation against the background of “The Belt and Road” Initiative. During the visit in Egypt, the delegation visited the head of the Education Department of China’s Embassy to Egypt.

Benha University in Egypt was the first stop, where CUEB delegation was welcomed by El Sayed Youssef El Kady, President of Benha University. He recalled that he had received warm reception during his visit to CUEB in the end of 2016 and thanked CUEB for sending outstanding TCFL teachers to Beha University to have teaching exchanges. He looked forward to deepening cooperation between the two universities. Outstanding students and young teachers in Benha University will be sent to CUEB to study, take refresher course and strengthen academic communication and scientific cooperation on dominant disciplines, while TCFL teachers and students of CUEB will also be welcomed to lecture and do internship in Benha University.

Wang Chuansheng indicated that Benha University is the first university that CUEB cooperated with in Egypt. With Beijing's "Belt and Road" national economic and management personnel training base, CUEB will strengthen cooperation with Benha University on the cultivation of high-level talents of economics and management, short-term training in China, regional curriculum construction and TCFL, and implement exchange programs between the two universities.

Ren Tao, Assistant Dean of the School of Statistics, Fu Lin, General Secretary of the School of Culture and Communication, and NiuZhiwei, Director of the general periodical office, had an in-depth discussion with Vice Presidents of Benha University, Hisham Mohamed Aboul-Enein and Gamal Ismail, who are in charge of research & graduate students， and community service & environmental development respectively, on international cultivation of high-level talents of economics and management, teachers’ exchanges, TCFL, and the exchange and cooperation of high-level academic publication.

The delegation made a second stop at Suez Canal University. Both of the two universities gave brief introductions of their overall situation and specialized disciplines, and expressed their intentions on bilateral exchanges. The delegation also made a detailed introduction of "Belt and Road" national economic and management personnel training base in CUEB, enrollment programs and majors with scholarships for overseas students, teachers’ short term training and communications in Beijing and cooperation on TCFL. Suez Canal University showed strong interest in the cooperation and held a detailed talk on sending Egyptian students to study for degrees in CUEB and welcoming TCFL teachers in CUEB to Confucius Institute to assist them in the preparation of Chinese teaching materials. CUEB and Suez Canal University will sign cooperation framework agreement and implement the cooperation programs as soon as possible.

During the visit in Egypt, Wang Chuansheng gave a brief introduction of CUEB and intention on cooperation with universities in Egypt, and hoped the Education Department of China’s Embassy to Egypt give guidance and support. The Education Department of China’s Embassy to Egypt made a detailed introduction of the overall situation of the higher education in Egypt and the two universities CUEB visited this time, and made specific suggestions on the cooperation programs which are planned to be carried out.

The last stop was Morocco. The delegation visited University Mohammed V de Rabat in Rabat, the capital of Morocco, and held an in-depth talk with IlhamBerrada, Vice President of the University Mohammed V de Rabat, Khalid Hammes, Dean of the School of Law, Economics and Social Sciences, Ghita Amine Benabdallah, head of the International Department, KarimaYatribi, foreign Dean of Confucius Institute, and Liu Hui, Chinese Dean of Confucius Institute. CUEB and University Mohammed V de Rabat reached consensus on sending Moroccan students to read for master and doctor degrees in CUEB, short term training in China and TCFL, and signed Memorandum of Understanding on inter-school cooperation.

The visit to three universities in North Africa has improved the cooperation between CUEB and high-level universities in Africa, and made CUEB even more well-known in North Africa, exploring new resources and channels for the construction of "Belt and Road" national economic and management personnel training base in CUEB.