On the morning of December 18, 2025, Uahekua Herunga, Deputy Secretary General of the South West Africa People’s Organization (SWAPO), Namibia’s ruling political party, led a 23-member delegation to Peking University. Accompanied by He Chenqing, Division Director, the Department of African Affairs, IDCPC, the delegation participated in a roundtable discussion with faculty and students from the Center for African Studies, Peking University, held in the Linhuxuan. The discussion, themed “China-Africa Relations in an Era of Profound Transformation,” was attended by several scholars from the Center as well as three Namibian students—one pursuing a master’s degree in the School of Government and two enrolled in doctoral programs at the National School of Development.

Scene of the Roundtable Discussion

Associate Professor Liu Haifang, Director of the Center for African Studies, delivered the opening remarks, welcoming the guests and introducing the history of African studies at Peking University, the mission of the Center, and the academic exchanges between the University and Namibia. Deputy Secretary General Herunga then shared Namibia’s development vision, highlighting in particular the need to learn from China in higher education and expressing expectations for deepening bilateral relations.

Professor Zha Daojiong of the School of International Studies, Professor Wang Jinjie (Deputy Secretary-General of the Center), and Dr. Xu Jin from the China Center for Health Development Studies delivered presentations on the following topics respectively: Critical Mineral Resources in China’s Foreign Economic Relations；Skills Ecosystem and Industrial Upgrading: Closed-Loop Collaboration Among Government, Enterprises, and Academia Universal Health Coverage Amid the Global Health Financing Crisis.

These presentations prompted active responses and engaged discussion from the Namibian delegates, fostering a lively exchange. The roundtable concluded with closing remarks by Director Liu Haifang, who presented a university souvenir to the delegation on behalf of Peking University. The session was chaired by Associate Professor Xu Liang, Secretary-General of the Center.

Address by SWAPO Deputy Secretary General Herunga

Deputy Secretary General Herunga expressed high hopes for the three Namibian students studying at PKU, encouraging them in particular to master the Chinese language

Presentations by Scholars from the Center for African Studies

Associate Professor Liu Haifang presents a PKU campus scenic plaque on behalf of the University team

The roundtable was organized with guidance and support from the Office of International Relations at Peking University, which helped create a practical platform for in-depth exchange. The discussion enhanced mutual understanding and consensus across multiple fields and contributed academic perspective to promoting high-quality development of China-Africa relations in the new era.

Written by:Yao Cuiping
Photos by: Center for African Studies
Edited by: Liu Haifang