The grand graduation ceremony of Customs Management Seminar for French-speaking African Countries was heldon October 31, 2012. This seminar for international business officials was host by the Ministry of Commerce and organized by University of International Business and Economics. Presented at the ceremony were vice-principle of UIBE, Mr. Liuya, the general Party branch secretary of School of Continuing Education UIBE, Mr. Li Baoyuan, the director of International Development Division, Mr. Zhou Haitao, and 32 officials from 14 French-speaking African countries. The graduation ceremony was hosted by the dean of School of Continuing Education UIBE, Mr. Zeng Gang.
Vice-principle Liu Ya gave a speech on behalf of UIBE. He congratulated the students on finishing the 21-day seminar and affirmed their achievements during their study and fieldtrip in China. He emphasized that, this seminar was not only a fieldtrip to China, but also the bonds of Sino-Africa friendship and an opportunity of cultural communication. Besides learning the operation, administration system and history of Chinese customs, the officials from Africa also learnt the history, culture and local customs and practices of China. In addition to improving the individual professional skills, this seminar would definitely promote the state-building of African countries.
Mr. Liu Ya also hoped that the officials could serve as ambassadors between China and Africa by sharing their experience and feeling with their colleges, friends and families, and play an active role in Sino-Africa customs cooperation or even Sino-Africa trade cooperation. In the end, Vice-principle Liu Ya wished French-speaking countries prosperity and the officials a bright future.
The director of Congo’s General Administration of Customs, Mr. Sylvain, gave a speech on behalf of the students. He firstly showed his gratitude towards the Minister of Commerce and UIBE, and thanked Chinese customs officials for their sincerity and sharing their experience on customs administration. He indicated that Africa is still undeveloped, but there are abundant raw materials and resources. African people hope to co-develop those resources under the principle of mutual benefit, in order to further promote the trade between China and Africa. He hoped China could share its valuable experience and promote technology transfer. Also, he expected that China could step up assistance to African counties in areas like infrastructure construction. All officials who attended this seminar would become China’s ambassadors of friendship and sincerest friends of China in French-speaking African countries.
At the end of the ceremony, Vice-principle Liu Ya awarded the certificates of Academy for International Business Officials, MOFCOM to the students. The general Party branch secretary of School of Continuing Education UIBE Li Baoyuan awarded them Honored Alumni Certificate.
