By He Jiayu

In early October, nearly 80 international students from 4 African countries including South Africa and Namibia will report to Nantong Vocational University, to study in majors such as construction engineering technology and Internet of things.

Over the years, Nantong has kept close ties with Africa, and has established 5 pairs of sister cities with 4 African countries one after another. More than 60,000 citizens have started businesses in Africa, invested in 48 overseas projects, involving multiple fields such as real estate, construction materials, textile, and optical communication.

With the help from Nantong entrepreneurs, Nantong Vocational University cooperated with Ministry of Higher Education, Technology and Innovation of Namibia and Namibia Students Financial Assistance Fund, carried out a full-time international students' academic education program. The program has cultivated more than 80 highly skilled talents. It is included in the ‘Presidential Revitalization Plan’ of Namibia. Apart from that, Nantong University has provided academic education for 459 international students from more than 40 African countries.

Nantong and African countries are closely connected. In the past few years, Affiliated Hospital of Nantong University and Nantong First People’s Hospital have sent medical experts to Africa, to provide medical assistance for local people. Nantong University has also cultivated nearly 40 excellent medical talents for Namibia by its talent development program. Nantong pharmaceutical companies also donated high-quality traditional Chinese medicine to countries such as Ghana, Tanzania, and Kenya, which saved a lot of critically ill patients.