On the morning of July 12, President YANG Dan and Vice President YAO Faming of Southwest Jiaotong University, met with the delegation of the University of Nairobi (UoN) led by Prof. Stephen Kiama Gitahi, President of the University.

Yang extended a warm welcome to the delegation and acquainted them with a brief introduction to SWJTU, including its long history, cutting-edge disciplines, talent training achievements, the Eastern (International) Campus, the KKU-SWJTU Tianyou Railway Institute, and SWJTU’s participation in the feasibility research project for assistance in the establishment of institutes of railways in African countries and railway-related workshops of the China International Development Cooperation Agency (CIDCA). Yang took this meeting as an opportunity to institute a close cooperation relationship with UoN and promote collaboration in teaching and scientific research.

Stephen Kiama thanked Yang for the hospitality and highly praised SWJTU’s campus development, rail transit experimental equipment, and cutting-edge research. He also introduced the UoN history, academic programmes, etc. In addition, he said that the collaboration between the two universities can synchronize with the greater railway cooperation between China and Kenya, and he hoped to further cooperation with SWJTU on railways and bring relevant cooperation projects into reality as soon as possible.

After the discussion, Mr. Yang and Mr. Stephen Kiama, on behalf of the two universities respectively, signed a memorandum of cooperation.

AT the working meeting, Yao introduced SWJTU’s innovative practice, especially the joint efforts with Khon Kaen University to build the KKU-SWJTU Tianyou Railway Institute, to cater to the needs of the Belt and Road Initiative. He pointed out that the envisaged cooperation will not only be conducive to the development of the two universities, but also benefit the long-term friendship between China and Kenya.

Located in Nairobi, Kenya’s capital, UoN is the country’s oldest and largest university and a member of the World University Network. Since its founding in 1956, UoN has trained more than 250,000 graduates, including William Samoei Ruto, the current Kenyan President, and several ministerial leaders.