Tsinghua University Council Chairperson Chen Xu Visits Kenya？

Tsinghua University Council Chairperson Chen Xu visited the Kenyan Ministry of Education and the University of Nairobi from September 1st to 5th. The visit expanded cooperation between Tsinghua University and institutes of higher education in Kenya, and injected a new dynamism into the cultural exchange between China and Kenya.

On September 4th, Chen Xu visited the Kenyan Ministry of Education and met Fred Matiang’i, the Minister of Education and Cabinet Secretary for the Interior. Ambassador Liu Xianfa and Chacha Nyaigotti, the Chairman of the Kenyan Higher Education Council, also attended the meeting.

Chen Xu stated that Tsinghua University attached great importance to cooperation and communication with institutes of higher education and research institutions in Kenya, and that Tsinghua University has engaged in cooperation on talent training, academic exchange and joint research with the University of Nairobi, the Agha Khan University and the African Academy of Sciences with the support of the governments of the two countries.

Chen Xu said that Tsinghua University has recruited and trained a number of excellent Kenyan students and also sent some students to study and engage in social practice in Kenya in the past decade. In future, Tsinghua will look deeply at the potentiality for cooperation and will expand channels of cooperation, continue to strengthen educational exchanges with Kenya and Africa, and contribute to the development of friendly ties between the two countries.

Following the meeting, Chen Xu held talks with Chacha Nyaigotti, the Chairman of the Kenyan Higher Education Council. The two discussed relevant issues in the development of higher education.

An agreement of cooperation was signed by Chen Xu and Peter Mbithi, the President of the University of Nairobi, during the visit. Under the agreement, the two universities will engage in cooperation and exchange in education and research activities for the mutual benefit of both institutions. According to the agreement, the Tsinghua University - University of Nairobi Office of Global Competence Development will be established by both parties to facilitate collaboration and activities between the two universities.

During her visit, Chairperson Chen Xu also visited the Chinese Embassy in Kenya and met with Ambassador Liu Xianfa.

By Guo Lili