Nigerian student hopes to serve as cultural ambassador

African youth have huge potential in bolstering exchanges in areas such as technology and rural development between the continent and China under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, said an African student studying in Beijing.

They have a significant role to play in shaping the China-proposed initiative's outcome, Uzodinma Gerlof, a doctoral candidate at Beijing Foreign Studies University from Nigeria, said at a Vision China event in Taicang, Jiangsu province, on Friday.

Gerlof, also a member of the China Africa Youth Federation, said his involvement in the organization, coupled with personal interactions with his Chinese counterparts and visits to several cultural heritage sites in China, had helped deepen his understanding of Chinese traditional values and practices.

In turn, he wishes to serve as a cultural ambassador for Africa.

"By sharing our knowledge of Africa's rich cultural heritage, we can contribute to cultural exchange initiatives within the Belt and Road Initiative," he said.

Gerlof's stay in China has offered him a front-row experience of China's economic vibrancy and technological know-how.

"As I traveled across this vast nation, I marveled at the infrastructure projects unfolding before my eyes," he said.

Citing his participation in the First Boao Summit for Anhui Merchants, a business event, the African student said he met ambassadors, diplomats and merchants from over 28 countries, and felt the immense potential for collaboration and trade that the BRI offers.

"These experiences have broadened my perspective on the opportunities for collaboration and investment that the Belt and Road Initiative presents," he said.

In his capacity as a China Africa Youth Federation member, Gerlof paid a recent visit to a rural part of Beijing.

"We gained insights into the history of rural transformation and development in China and saw firsthand how the integration of agriculture, culture and tourism contributes to rural revitalization," he said.

"Armed with this knowledge, we can advocate for similar sustainable development approaches in rural areas across Africa," he said.