On April 26, the “Read China Again - Hainan Global Youth Development Dialogue” hosted by Beijing China Universities’ Association for International Exchange was held in Lingshui, Hainan. Komlanvi Jacob Maneh, a Togolese student of GSCAAS with Chinese Government Scholarship, was specially invited by the organizer to attend the event.

Jacob is a second-year master’s student majoring in Agricultural Environmental Sciences, enrolled in the batch of 2022. Under the supervision of Professor Li Zhaojun from the Institute of Agricultural Resources and Regional Planning, his research focuses on agricultural ecological environment and green development. Outside of his academic research, he has taken the initiative to explore China’s agricultural science and technology innovation concepts and successful practices, facilitating mutual learning and exchange between Chinese and international youth. As the only representative invited from a national-level agricultural research institution to attend the Dialogue, Jacob delivered a speech in Chinese at the parallel forum themed “Cultural Exchange – Mutual Learning of Civilizations, Innovative Cooperation, and Shared Opportunities for Cross-Cultural Youth”. From the perspective of China-Africa agricultural cooperation, he shared his academic and research growth experiences in China, recounting his transformation from a cultural observer into an ambassador for Silk Road technological innovation and cultural exchange. His speech fully embodied the image of GSCAAS’s international students as “Ambassadors for Culture” as well as “Ambassadors for Science and Technology” who understand China and develop friendship with it.

The Dialogue attracted over 100 youth representatives from around the world. Looking ahead, GSCAAS will continue to serve the high-quality development of the Belt and Road Initiative, deepen international collaboration in scientific and technological innovation, strengthen the joint cultivation of talent, and further enhance exchanges and interactions between Chinese and international youth, injecting new momentum into global agricultural cooperation through “ Study in CAAS ”.