In late October, five researchers and four doctoral and master students from the Center of African Studies in Yunnan University (YNU) participated in a conference regarding the 2017 general assembly of China Society of African Historical Studies and the Belt and Road and Africa's Development, the Yunnan University News reported.

Representatives at the 2017 general assembly of China Society of African Historical Studies and the Belt and Road and Africa's Development Conference

The conference, sponsored by China Society of African Historical Studies and hosted by a Sudan Research Center of Yangzhou University, discusses the in-depth issues regarding the Belt and Road and Africa's Development, cooperation prospects between China and Africa, the Belt and Road and the studies of African history,  the political security in Africa, the cultural exchanges with Africa, and the new changes and new trends in relations between Africa and the outside world.

Center researchers including Zhang Jiamei, Wang Tao, Zhao Xian, and Zhou Jun respectively delivered speeches during the conference. 

Meanwhile, the center's teacher Yang Hui and a master student were invited to attend the founding ceremony of the Chinese Center for African Anthropological Studies in Zhejiang Normal University and the International Seminar on African Studies in Chinese Anthropology. 

During the seminar, scholars from the center and other countries made speeches and had extensive discussions on the topics of China-Africa immigration, China-Africa technical cooperation and Africa's medical treatment, education and language.

A photo of the participating guests at the International Seminar on African Studies in Chinese Anthropology 

The seminar composed of the opening ceremony, a keynote speech, panel discussions, the round table and the closing ceremony. 

On the evening of the seminar, an original large-scale Chinese documentary entitled "I came from Africa" was presented.

Currently, the center is planning to go to South Africa to carry out exchanges and investigations, providing services for next year's cultural exchange mechanism meeting between China and South Africa in Beijing.

The center is a think tank of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China and a regional and country research base for the Ministry of Education.

In March this year, the Yunnan University Research Center for China-South Africa People-in-People Exchanges was established, which has ever since inspired the center in conducting more domestic academic exchanges and researches in Africa.

In July, Xia Yan, Liang Yijian and Wang Tao, three teachers and a doctoral student from the center went to Kenya and Tanzania for academic visit and project investigation.