Kenyan woman promotes China-Africa cultural exchanges

Ruth Wangui, a Kenyan lecturer working at Tianjin Normal University in north China, has played an active role in fostering better relations and mutual understanding between African and Chinese people, helping to break down cultural barriers.

Ruth's connection with China began in 2005 when she joined the Confucius Institute in Kenya's capital Nairobi. She later benefited from a cultural program launched by the educational institute and Tianjin Normal University in China.

Since graduation with a doctorate degree from Tianjin Normal University, Ruth has been working as a lecturer at the university's China-Africa Language and Cultural Exchange Center.

"I was the first Kenyan to represent Kenya in the Chinese Bridge competition in 2006. So, that was my starting point of coming to China. I had a one-year scholarship to study the language here. Then in 2007, I was lucky enough to get another scholarship to do my bachelor's degree," Ruth recalled.

Alongside her Chinese language studies, Ruth developed a keen interest in the country's culture.

"We were not only taught the language but we were also introduced to the cultural part of it. So, I started from the classroom and went on to do community learning as well. I participated in numerous competitions around the country," she said.

As an outstanding international student excelling in this area, Ruth was even invited to perform twice at the Spring Festival Gala, which is enjoyed by almost every Chinese household and one of the biggest galas in the world.

Regarding Tianjin Normal University, Ruth credits it with playing a key role in breaking cultural barriers between China and Africa. Now, she is also one of those actively involved in promoting Chinese-African cultural exchanges.

"Tianjin Normal University, for one, has been at the center point of China-Africa exchanges, owing to the Confucius Institute. So, it has been at the front of people-to-people exchanges," said the lecturer from Kenya.

In 2005, Tianjin Normal University partnered with the University of Nairobi to establish the first Confucius Institute in Africa. Since then, they have launched a series of combined Chinese teaching programs to cultivate talent.

"We have collaborated with the University of Nairobi to establish Chinese teaching majors, including 1+1 Masters and 2+2 Bachelors programs, working together on undergraduate, masters and doctoral training. Ruth is a typical representative of these efforts," said Gong Jinlong, president of Tianjin Normal University.

Ruth's experience also has a positive impact on other African students.

"I saw her participating in some of Chinese competitions, and she inspired me very much," said Ike Kitili, an African PhD student in public policy and governance at Tianjin Normal University.

Kenyan woman promotes China-Africa cultural exchanges

Chinese scientists have set a new record by reaching a drilling depth of 750 meters on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, during the country's second comprehensive scientific expedition to the hinterland of the plateau.

The team led by academician Fang Xiaomin from Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) is currently carrying out a resource and environment research project in the Lunpola Basin, which is the first proven oil-producing basin on the Plateau.

Overcoming a series of difficulties brought by the harsh high-altitude environment, the team managed to reach more than 750 meters below the surface.

With an average altitude of 4,600 meters, the Lunpola Basin has accumulated the most continuous Cenozoic strata of the plateau dating back for 55 million years, which makes it a key region for studying the plateau's tectonic features, climate, biology and ecology as well as their co-evolution.

The rock samples taken from deep down the earth not only record the history of tens of thousands of years of geological and climate changes on the Qinghai- Xizang Plateau, but also reveal the distribution of energy in the stratum.

"This gray-green section with continuous layered patterns is conglomerate. This part of red sedimentary rock represents the arid climatic conditions of the subtropical high-pressure zone. And this part, with many beautiful layers, is carbonate rock, and over here, it may contain some white-jade marble or gypsum. Further down is what, I just mentioned, was produced from the tropical environment. We also successfully drilled it out. The oil shale from that time has now transformed into heavy oil, indicating that the biological climate was very rich and humid, with high plant diversity and significant organic sedimentation. It's the most important oil and gas-bearing layer in the Lunpola Basin, which is the first basin on Qinghai-Xizang Plateau where we have drilled an oil outlet," Fang explained to China Central Television reporter.

The scientist said the ongoing drilling is expected to provide an important scientific basis for the simulation and prediction of the impact of global warming and the ecological environment protection on the Qinghai-Xizang Plateau, the formation of hydrocarbon source rocks, and the exploration and development of salt lake resources.

"We have designed a drilling depth of 1,500 meters, but we will reach 1,000 meters first. If all goes well, we will drill deeper to 1,500 meters. This mission is the first of its kind globally to drill so deep, more than 1,000 meters, in the core of the hinterland on a plateau," said Fang.

Chinese scientists set new drilling record on Qinghai-Xizang Plateau