The grand graduation ceremony of 2014 Customs Administration Seminar for French-speaking African Countries was held on July 9, 2014. This 21-day foreign-aid project was hosted by Ministry of Commerce and organized by University of International Business and Economics. 22 officials from 12 French-speaking African countries such as Senegal, Central African Republic, Cameroon and Guniea attended the seminar. Under the strong support from the General Administration of Customs and Fuzhou Customs, the seminar was held successfully. It not only deepened African customs officials’ understanding of Chinese culture, economy, society and especially customs system and mechanism, but also promoted Sino-Africa international communication and cooperation in fields such as economy and trade.
On June 19, 2014, the opening ceremony of the seminar was held on our campus. Presented at the opening ceremony were the vice director of Education and Training Center of General Administration of Customs, Mr. Wang Donghong, the vice-principle of UIBE, Mr. Liuya, the dean of School of Continuing Education, Mr. Zeng Gang, the general Party branch secretary of School of Continuing Education UIBE, Mr. Cui Xinsheng and the vice-dean of School of Continuing Education Mr. Shi Xihong.
(group photo on the opening ceremony)
On July 9, the vice-principle of UIBE, Mr. Zhao Zhongxiu, the division chief of Education and Training Center of General Administration of Customs, Ms. Chen Lifen, the division chief of International Cooperation and Communication Division, Mr. Xia Hai quan, the general Party branch secretary of School of Continuing Education UIBE, Mr. Cui Xinsheng and the vice-dean of School of Continuing Education Shi Xihong presented at the graduation ceremony. Vice-principle Zhao Xiuzhong congratulated the students on finishing the 21-day seminar on behalf of UIBE, and affirmed their achievements during their study in China. He also showed his gratitude to them for their cooperation and support. He awarded students certificates of Academy for International Business Officials, MOFCOM and Honored Alumni Certificates.
(Vice-principle Zhao Zhongxiu awarded students certificates of Academy for International Business Officials, MOFCOM and Honored Alumni Certificates.)
Mr Gilbert from Central African Republic and Mr. Endia from Senegal customs gave speeches on behalf of the students. They showed their gratitude towards the Ministry of Commerce and UIBE, and commended the team upon their hard work.
(group photo on the graduation ceremony)
This seminar included both lectures and fieldtrip, emphasizing the importance of fieldtrip in research and study. In the fieldtrip, the officials visited National Customs Information Center, China Customs Museum and other departments, and went to Fuzhou Customs. Deputy Commissioner of Fuzhou Customs and Political Department Director Li Baoping and the deputy director of Fuzhou Customs Human Resource Education Office Wei Wenhua introduced the general situation of Fuzhou Customs to the African officials, and accompanied them to visit the Administrative Service Center of Fuzhou Customs and history exhibition room. Later, the officials from the seminar went to visit the Machine Inspection Building in Mawei Customs. On the afternoon of the same day, they went to Fuzhou Customs in Pingtan to see the check post, Aoqian terminal and the small trade market to Taiwan. During the seminar, the fieldtrip was well received by the African officials. They said that the visit is not only helpful for their future work, but also for China and Africato build a bridge for customs cooperation and exchanges.
(fieldtrip)
Besides the fieldtrip focusing on customs, the School of Continuing Education also led the officials to visit two companies, China SINOMACH Heavy Industry Corporation and ChunlunGroup, which deepened the officials’ understanding of China’s economy and state of industrial development.
The seminar ended just one day before the whitepaper of China Foreign-aid Project 2014 was issued. According to the whitepaper “China adheres to the philosophy of ‘to teach people how to fish’. Through cooperation on human resource development, technology and volunteer service, we share experiences and practical technologies with other developing countries, help themto develop talents, and enhance their ability of independent development.”As the one of the foreign-aid project contractors of the Ministry of Commerce, our university has been adhering to the training principle of high standard and quality, and held dozens of multilateral and bilateral foreign-aid human resource training projects, which were commended highly upon by the Ministry of Commerce and officials from developing countries. This not only made a positive contribution to China’s foreign-aid endeavor, but also promoted the progress of internationalization of our university.
