The graduation ceremony for the 2025 South African Prominent Young Leader Training Program was held at Zhengzhou University (ZZU) on Aug 24.
The event was attended by Wang Haijie, vice-president of ZZU, and Liu Bao, a senior inspector from the Henan Provincial Foreign Affairs Office, among other dignitaries. Other participants included representatives of South African ministries and provinces, as well as eight outstanding young trainees.
In his address, Wang congratulated the South African participants on completing their training and expressed gratitude for the support from the Henan Provincial Foreign Affairs Office. He emphasized the program's role in strengthening China-South Africa relations through educational collaboration and cultural exchange and welcomed the trainees as new members of ZZU, encouraging them to apply their newly acquired knowledge to foster ongoing connections between the university and South Africa, thereby promoting cultural integration and mutual benefits.
Liu highlighted Henan's pioneering role in China-South Africa cooperation, noting the province's efforts to build a comprehensive partnership with South Africa through optimized investment and cultural exchanges.
As a trainee of the program, Kebaabetswe Giveness Nkate, a senior official from South Africa's North West Province, praised Henan's development strategies and expressed a commitment to applying these insights to support sustainable growth in South Africa's North West and Limpopo provinces.
During the program, participants visited cultural sites and leading enterprises in Henan, gaining firsthand exposure to China's rich cultural heritage and development achievements. The program also featured various extracurricular activities, enhancing the participants' understanding and appreciation of Chinese culture.
The graduation ceremony for the 2025 South African Prominent Young Leader Training Program is held at ZZU. [Photo/zzu.edu.cn]
Participants pose for a group picture. [Photo/zzu.edu.cn]