BRIDGING THE GAP

In Kenya's Maasai Mara National Reserve, a Chinese man dubbed "Simba" has many titles, such as "friend of Mara" and "hero of wildlife conservation."

Simba, whose real name is Zhuo Qiang, is the first Chinese to work full-time on wildlife conservation in Africa, and the first Chinese to register a non-profit organization on the continent.

Years of hard work in jointly building a wildlife theme park with local Masais have paid off. For the past five years, the size of Kiniyei Conservancy, where he now works, has doubled, and the number of poaching cases have dropped. The number of lions roaming the park has increased from 12 to 30, and the numbers of cheetahs, spotted hyenas, zebras, wildebeests, giraffes and antelope have all doubled.

Zhuo, who hails from the southwestern city of Chongqing, said his dream is to introduce this model of wildlife conservation to other African countries and bring his valuable experience back to China.

Over the years, hundreds of young Chinese volunteers have set foot on the African continent. Their hard work, be it in education, health care or agriculture, is widely recognized and appreciated by local residents.

"With more and more well-educated young people going to Africa, non-governmental exchanges between China and Africa run deeper," said Huo Jiangtao, an assistant at the Institute for African Studies at Guangdong University of Foreign Studies.

Likewise, more and more African volunteers have been actively involved in social work in China. Michel Tshimbombo Musampa is one of them.

The 20-year-old is from the Republic of the Congo and lives with his family in the Dengfeng community of Guangzhou. Besides doing his part in running a family business, Musampa volunteers to lend a hand to newcomers from his motherland and visits local seniors who live alone.

Musampa said that he wants to serve the community because he was helped by the community and wants to return the favor.

In Dengfeng, more than 30 foreigners have become registered volunteers. "Foreign volunteers have played an important part in bridging our service to foreign residents," said Wang Haige, who offers services to foreigners at the Comprehensive Service Center for Dengfeng Community.

According to the Exit and Entry of Guangzhou, among the nearly 7,500 African students who live in the city, a quarter take part in cultural and voluntary activities.

"China-Africa cultural exchange is on the rise, especially among young people," said Liu Hongwu, director of the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University. "And this will provide a solid foundation for the further development of bilateral relations."

Chinese wildlife conservationist Zhuo Qiang (R) puts up an infrared-triggered camera at Ol Kinyei conservancy in Maasai Mara, Kenya, July 9, 2018. (Xinhua/Lyu Shuai)