A Delegation from Ministry of Education and Skills Development of Botswana Visits TU

On April 27th, a delegation headed by Mr. M. Macheng, Deputy Permanent Secretary of Ministry of Education & Skills Development of Botswana, visited TU, accompanied by the officials from the Department of International Cooperation and Exchanges of the Ministry of Education, Foreign Affairs Office of Tianjin Municipal People's Government and Tianjin Municipal Education Commission. TU Party Secretary Jianping Liu and Executive Vice Party Secretary Xianjin Yang welcomed the guests together with representatives from the School of International Education, the Office of Science & Technology, Graduate School, the Office of Undergraduate Affairs and International Cooperation Office.

After his brief on TU history, advantageous disciplines and outstanding alumni, Party Secretary Jianping Liu suggested that both parties further promote the cooperation and exchanges in the areas of education and technology based on the long-term friendship between China and Botswana. Mr. M. Macheng expressed his hope that formal and in-depth educational collaboration would be developed between the two countries besides the fruitful exchanges and collaboration in trade during recently years. TU's schooling experience is valuable for the development of higher education in Botswana, Mr. M. Macheng also indicated. During the meeting with Executive Vice Party Secretary Xianjin Yang, both sides reviewed the collaboration achievements between the two countries and exchanged views on further educational cooperation opportunities. After the meeting, the delegation paid a visit to TU History Museum and the Laboratory of Systems Bioengineering in the School of Chemical Engineering, a key lab of the Ministry of Education.

Tianjin Deputy Mayor Junfang Zhang met with Pelonomi Venson-Moitoi, the Minister of Education and Skills Development of Botswana on April 28th. Party Secretary Jianping Liu together with representatives from relevant authorities and universities of Tianjin also attended the meeting.

Botswana, officially the Republic of Botswana, is a country located in Southern Africa. Formerly the British protectorate of Bechuanaland, Botswana adopted its new name after becoming independent on September 30th, 1966. The official language of Botswana is English although Setswana is widely spoken across the country. In Botswana, an estimated 70% of citizens identify themselves as Christians out of a population of 1.92 million. Diamond mining is the mainstay of Botswana's economy, which accounts for approximately 1/3 of its GDP and 70% of export earnings. Diplomatic relations between the People's Republic of China and the Republic of Botswana were first established on January 6th, 1975. Over the past 36 years, bilateral ties have witnessed sustained, rapid and sound development thanks to the joint efforts of both sides.