From May 28 to 29, a delegation led by Bayissa Leta Danno, president of Ambo University in Ethiopia, visited ShanghaiTech University. Wu Qiang, deputy party secretary, and Jiang Ge, deputy party secretary and vice president, warmly welcomed the guests. The two sides engaged in in-depth exchanges on inter-university cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).
Bayissa Leta Danno in the middle
During the visit, Danno, together with Wu and Jiang, unveiled and toured the exhibition titled “From Standing Up to Flying High: The Myth of Human Creativity” under the “Belt and Road, Life is Beautiful” exhibition series. At the Kedao College, the delegation sampled coffee prepared by students and discussed coffee culture and its unique role in China-Africa cultural exchanges with them. Danno also visited the Brain and Intelligence Development Laboratory, the Multidisciplinary Artificial Reality Studio, and the University Library, gaining an in-depth understanding of ShanghaiTech’s rich achievements in scientific innovation, technology transfer, and cultural development. The activities were attended by Hu Jiang, vice dean of the School of Creativity and Art, Feng Songlin, dean of the Kedao College, and Nie Yan, deputy director of the Office of International Affairs.
The exhibition unveiling ceremony at Kedao College
Wu Qiang and Bayissa Leta Danno at the exhibition
On the evening of May 28, Danno delivered a special lecture at the Conference Center, discussing innovative China-Africa cooperation under the BRI amidst global trade shifts. He highlighted the cooperation achievements between China and Ethiopia within the Belt and Road framework, analyzed the prospects for collaboration in trade, infrastructure development, and social progress, and introduced Ambo University’s role in China-Africa academic cooperation, particularly its contributions to promoting sustainable development. He noted that the BRI has had a significant impact on global governance, with China-Africa cooperation bringing economic opportunities to participating countries and playing a positive role in addressing global trade uncertainties.
The lecture delivered by Danno
The delegation also visited the Shanghai Museum East Branch and the Museum of Art Pudong, gaining insights into Chinese civilization, experiencing the inclusive urban spirit of Shanghai and its vibrant developmental energy as an international metropolis.
This visit represents an important step in ShanghaiTech’s efforts to expand cooperation with universities along the Belt and Road and expand the range of global civilizations being studied at ShanghaiTech. In the future, the university will continue to uphold the principles of openness, inclusiveness, and mutual learning, further deepening exchanges and collaboration with global universities.