The year 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative and the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Kenya. Over the years, Donghua University has leveraged its expertise in disciplines such as textiles, materials, and design to deepen exchanges and collaboration within the “Belt and Road” network. Recently, a delegation from Donghua University visited Africa to jointly organize significant academic events and showcase textile and fashion works together with relevant universities, enterprises, and international organizations, which aims to build a platform for exchanges in the textile, apparel, and cultural fields between China and Africa, and vividly demonstrate the unique “Donghua Model” in China-Africa cooperation.
China-African Academies, Governments, and Enterprises
Jointly Promote High-Quality Development in Bilateral Relations
The Sino-African High-Quality Development International Forum, themed “Sustainable Green Development for a Brighter Future in China and Africa”, is co-sponsored by Donghua University, Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia, Ethiopian Industrial Parks Development Corporation, United Nations Global Compact Action Platform for the Belt and Road Initiative, and the China (Ethiopia) Textile Light Industry Enterprise Sustainable Development Alliance. The forum has attracted attention and coverage from local mainstream media, including ETV, EBS, and Arts TV.
Experts, scholars, and industry representatives from China and Africa attended the forum and engaged in in-depth discussions on various topics, including sustainable textile and material development in Africa, green development practices of the Chinese textile and apparel industry in Ethiopia, innovation and cooperation across the sustainable textile industry value chain, the Belt and Road Initiative and sustainable development goals, the construction of a community of shared future between China and Africa, the establishment of the green development evaluation system for textile industrial parks, and the construction of eco-friendly industrial parks, etc.
(Live scene of the forum)
The keynote speakers included representatives from domestic and overseas universities, such as Donghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Anhui University, China University of Mining and Technology, East China University of Political Science and Law, and Bahir Dar University in Ethiopia. Representatives from international organizations such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO), United Nations Global Compact Action Platform for the Belt and Road Initiative (UNGC), and GIZ, as well as representatives from companies including Ethiopian Industrial Parks Development Corporation (IPDC), Shangtex Garment Manufacturing Ethiopia PLC, and Ethiopia Orient Spinning Printing & Dyeing Co.,Ltd, were also among the speakers. Representatives from the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia, as well as officials from the Ministry of Education and Ministry of Trade and Industry (Ethiopia) were in attendance.
Xiang Yanxun, Deputy Secretary of the Party Committee of Donghua University, expressed that Donghua University will collaborate with multiple stakeholders to further deepen cooperation and strengthen the construction of the “Textile Education and Training Base under the Belt and Road Initiative”, to jointly promote the green, sustainable, and high-quality development of the textile and apparel industries in China and Africa and contribute wisdom and strength to the creation of a better future for China-Africa bonds. During the forum, Donghua University and Bahir Dar University signed a memorandum of cooperation, aiming to facilitate deeper collaboration in discipline construction, talent training, and scientific research, leveraging their respective expertise and advantages to better serve the sustainable and green development of the textile and apparel industries in China and Africa.
(Signing of the memorandum of cooperation)
A Constantly Renewed Cooperation Platform for
Sino-African Textile and Cultural Exchanges Spanning 9 Editions
The 9th Sino-African International Symposium on Textiles and Apparel and Sino-African Cultural Exchange Forum took place in Mombasa, Kenya, with the theme of “Better Textiles, Better Life”. It was jointly organized by Donghua University, Moi University, Quanzhou Normal University and University of Bayreuth.
(Live scene of the forum)
Nearly 80 experts and scholars from China and abroad delved into topics such as “Green Development of the Textile and Apparel Industry”, “Theory and Practice of a Community of Shared Future for Mankind”, and “Language, Culture, and International Communication” to discuss various subjects, including sustainable fibers derived from waste textiles, the development of green and sustainable aerospace composite materials, the dissemination of West African textile and fashion culture, cooperative opportunities and pathways for building a Sino-African community of shared future, and investment opportunities in the African textile industry. Distinguished speakers from Donghua University, Shanghai Jiao Tong University, Tianjin University, Anhui University, China University of Mining and Technology, East China University of Political Science and Law, Quanzhou Normal University, University of Nottingham Ningbo China, University of Bayreuth in Germany, National Textile University of Pakistan, as well as representatives from international organizations such as the United Nations Industrial Development Organization (UNIDO) and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), and local companies such as Rivatex East Africa Limited, attended the forum. Officials from the WWF Shanghai Office and UNIDO delivered speeches via video messages.
(Live scene of the forum)
Chinese and Kenyan Youth Collaborate to
Celebrate the 60th Anniversary of Diplomatic Relations
On December 14, 2023, the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Kenya, the finalists of the “Unity and Prosperity - the 1st Sino-African Cultural and Creative Arts Joint Creation Competition (2023)” co-organized by Donghua University and Moi University were unveiled on the day of the show.
(Selected works)
The competition was launched one year in advance, and a large number of artistic materials were collected through the Confucius Institutes in Kenya. These materials include cultural themes, traditional crafts, folk art, totem symbols, popular culture, natural landscapes, animals and plants, and self-graffiti that are based on the local culture in Africa. After forming teams of Chinese and Kenyan youth, a total of 675 art design works were created, including pattern design, decorative painting, comic illustrations, slogan writing, graphic design, poster design, photography transformation, folk art transformation, IP design, and more. Among these works, 19 finalists were showcased during the Sino-African forum and attracted the attention of guests and local audiences.
(Live scene of the fashion show)
Donghua University has consistently responded to the Belt and Road Initiative of China, actively deepening educational cooperation with Africa. It has made significant contributions to talent development in Sino-African textile industry collaboration, and advancements in textile education and technology. The Sino-Africa International Symposium on Textiles and Apparel and Sino-Africa Cultural Exchange Forum has been hosted alternatively in China and Africa since 2015, now reaching its ninth edition. During the fourth edition in 2018, held in Ethiopia, the Textile Education and Training Base under the Belt and Road Initiative (Africa) was officially launched, a collaborative effort between Orient International (Holding) Co., Ltd. and Donghua University. Moving forward, Donghua University will offer further support to Africa with educational and talent resources, to make more and substantial contributions to the development of the Belt and Road initiative and foster closer bonds between the people of China and Africa.
