To further promote in-depth exchanges between Liaoning University and high-level universities in Africa, and to facilitate more extensive and profound cooperation with countries along the Belt and Road in the field of education, from October 26 to 31, a delegation led by Prof. Huo Chunhui, Standing Committee Member of the Party Committee and Vice President of LNU, was invited to pay a visit to the University of Dakar in Senegal. The visit aimed to explore new opportunities for cooperation with the University of Dakar and deepen educational and scientific research exchanges between China and Senegal. During the visit, the delegation visited the Confucius Institute at the University of Dakar, met with Chinese teachers there, paid a courtesy call to the Chinese Embassy in Senegal, and engaged in exchanges with Chinese institutions and enterprises in Senegal.

During their visit to University of Dakar, Huo Chunhui and his delegation were warmly received by Aminata NIANG Diene, the Acting President of University of Dakar. Huo provided a detailed introduction of the history and development of the university to the representatives of University of Dakar. He expressed his hope that through this visit, both parties could actively expand cooperation in education, research, academic exchange, and other fields, explore new cooperation points, and open up new paths for cooperation. Aminata NIANG Diene introduced the basic information of University of Dakar. She stated that she is open to cooperation and will provide maximum support to actively promote the cooperation process, hoping that the partnership between the two universities can reach new heights, and will arrange a return visit to Liaoning University as soon as possible. Vice President Mohamed Bachir NIANG expressed the hope for cooperation in the field of economics and management, and sincerely invited experts in economics from Liaoning University to lecture in Senegal. Both sides reached a preliminary consensus on faculty sharing, student exchange, academic conferences, and research cooperation between Liaoning University and University of Dakar, and signed a strategic cooperation agreement.

During the exchange with the teaching team of the School of Mining at University of Dakar, Huo Chunhui pointed out that Liaoning University is actively seeking to build joint laboratories with high-level overseas universities to carry out scientific research cooperation. He introduced the research field of Academician Pan Yishan, as well as the construction status of the Institute of Disaster Rock Mechanics and the Key Laboratory of Coal Mine Rock Burst Mechanism and Control Technology under the National Mine Safety Administration of China at Liaoning University. He hoped that both parties could explore the construction of a joint laboratory from five aspects: promoting technological innovation and technology transfer in the mining field, strengthening the training and exchange of technical personnel, promoting the green and intelligent transformation of the mining field, enhancing the international development of Sino-Senegalese scientific and technological cooperation, and establishing joint laboratories and research and development centers. Prof. Mahamadane DIENE, Dean of the School of Mining at University of Dakar, introduced the relevant situation of the college and proposed possible cooperation directions for future joint development between the two universities. He stated that a special committee will be established, with a professional team to connect with Liaoning University. Teacher representatives from the School of Mining also provided suggestions for future cooperation from their respective professional fields.

During his visit, Huo Chunhui visited the Confucius Institute jointly established by Liaoning University and University of Dakar to meet with teachers working overseas and hold a discussion to learn about their working and living conditions. He pointed out that after twelve years of construction and development, the Confucius Institute has thrived with strong support from the University of Dakar administration. It now boasts well-equipped facilities and a complete teaching staff, with various teaching and cultural activities progressing steadily. This has fulfilled the original intentions of establishing the Confucius Institute and further strengthened the friendship between the peoples of China and Senegal. These achievements would not have been possible without the hard work and overcoming of numerous difficulties by the teachers who have traveled across the ocean.

Lamine NDIAYE, the foreign Dean of the Confucius Institute, and Madam Kane, the executive officer, introduced the current development situation of the Confucius Institute. Lamine NDIAYE expressed a warm welcome to the visiting delegation from Liaoning University. He pointed out that there are significant cultural differences between China and Africa, and the Confucius Institute provides an important opportunity for African youth students to learn Chinese language and culture. He hoped that in the future, they could break through the limitations of language and cultural cooperation, engage in higher-level cooperation, actively expand the combination of "language and culture + skills", and utilize information technology tools such as artificial intelligence to further improve the construction level of high-end courses.

Huo Chunhui and his delegation visited the Chinese Embassy in Senegal. They expressed gratitude to the Chinese Embassy in Senegal for its support to the Confucius Institute over the years. Huo also introduced to Charge d' Affaires Li Yan and Cultural Counsellor Zhu Xi the relevant situation of Liaoning University's international cooperation with University of Dakar, the construction of the Confucius Institute, and the development of international students. Li Yan noted that the jointly established Confucius Institute by the two universities has achieved great success, with excellent work in promoting Chinese language, Chinese language training, student exchanges, and the Chinese Bridge Competition. She hoped that the Confucius Institute could play a bridging role, organizing larger-scale traditional cultural activities, and further advancing the friendship between China and Senegal.

Huo Chunhui and his delegation had exchanges with Chinese agencies and enterprises in Senegal, including the Chinese Agricultural Group in Senegal, China International Capital Corporation, and Huafei Industrial International Co., Ltd. He expressed that the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Senegal is operating at a high level, and under the new situation, the cooperation between the two countries has ushered in new opportunities. Liaoning University is willing to join hands with University of Dakar to explore cooperation fields with these institutions and enterprises, carrying out practical cooperation in scientific research, integration of industry and education, student employment, and other aspects, jointly contributing to the friendship between China and Senegal.

This visit has laid the groundwork for Liaoning University and University of Dakar to officially sign a strategic cooperation agreement, planning ahead for cooperation between the two universities in student and teacher exchange, academic research cooperation, educational and cultural activities, joint laboratory construction, and Chinese language teaching. Together, we will explore new paths for cooperation between the two universities. In the future, our university will continue to work hand in hand with University of Dakar to jointly create a bright future for Sino-Senegalese educational cooperation.