By Mariatou Ngum & Abdou Mbye
Academics from two of Tianjin’s most prestigious universities have expressed enthusiasm and optimism following the visit of His Excellency Vice President Mohammed B.S. Jallow to their institutions today, describing the engagements as a meaningful step toward deeper academic and research cooperation between The Gambia and China.
At Tianjin University’s Medical College, faculty member Ms. Qiuyin Fan spoke positively of the Vice President’s evident interest in higher education and advanced technology. She described the visit as an encouraging symbol of the collaborative spirit driving education and innovation both in China and globally, and confirmed that international education is a central part of the university’s mission. Ms. Fan expressed a clear desire to see the Medical College build formal ties with The Gambia, stating that advancing such partnerships is something the institution is actively keen to pursue.
At Nankai University, Huang Haitan, deputy director, Center for Human Rights Studies at Nankai University described receiving the Vice President as a great honour, noting that Nankai has a long tradition of welcoming top leaders and building international connections. He said the delegation engaged in a substantive and productive exchange on human rights protection and governance, areas in which Nankai has established itself as a national and international authority.
Mr. Huang expressed particular interest in seeing more Gambian students enrol at Nankai, acknowledging that while the university hosts students from across the African continent, Gambians remain underrepresented. He spoke warmly of his personal experience supervising students from Sierra Leone and Madagascar, describing African students as among his most intelligent and dedicated, and expressed confidence that Gambian students would bring the same qualities to Nankai’s campus.
On the broader question of China’s engagement with Africa, the Nankai Deputy Director attributed the country’s rapid development to strong institutional leadership, the diligence and intelligence of its people, and a culture of openness to international cooperation, an openness he said extends especially to Africa.
He expressed confidence in China’s continued rise as a global leader in the field of artificial intelligence, noting that China’s large population provides a unique advantage in generating the data that underpins AI advancement, and that the country’s strength lies particularly in translating innovation into practical, everyday application.
The sentiments expressed by both academics reflect a growing appetite on the Chinese side for meaningful engagement with The Gambia, an appetite that Vice President Jallow’s visit has clearly helped to strengthen.