From May 11 to 12, 2026, a delegation led by Jacques Edjangue, Vice President of the African Development Bank (AfDB) Group, visited Shanghai Ocean University (SHOU) for a two-day in-depth exchange. The two sides reached a consensus on cooperation and officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), joining hands to promote the high-quality development of the China-Africa blue economy and support the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future.
The delegation met with university leaders, visited the exhibition showcasing SHOU's achievements in its Double First-Class initiative, and toured the Distant-water Fisheries Science and Technology Museum to learn about the university's distinct academic disciplines. During an exchange meeting with various colleges, the AfDB Group provided a systematic overview of its core functions, strategic development directions, and pan-African operational layout. It highlighted its pivotal role in regional integration, agricultural upgrading, energy transition, economic support, and academic co-construction. Simultaneously, the delegation gained a comprehensive understanding of the competitive disciplines and international cooperation frameworks of SHOU's colleges. The two sides reached preliminary cooperative intentions focusing on key areas such as agricultural development, marine biology research, and talent cultivation.
On the afternoon of May 11, a Partners Roundtable Meeting was convened. Representatives from various domestic and international institutions attended the meeting, including:
Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB)
Gates Foundation Beijing Office
The International Ecosystem Management Partnership of the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP-IEMP)
World Food Programme (WFP)
New Development Bank (NDB)
The Center for International Cooperation Service of the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs
Institute of Geographic Sciences and Natural Resources Research, Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS)
Participants focused on core topics such as technical assistance, professional training, digital transformation, modern agricultural development, and empowerment through smart technology to discuss paths for collaborative synergy. The attending parties unanimously agreed that capability building must be tightly integrated with African development. They emphasized the high value of South-South cooperation and called for deeper China-Africa collaboration in education, scientific research, and technology promotion to construct a robust China-Africa blue economy cooperation network.
On the morning of May 12, a dedicated campus recruitment career fair presentation by the AfDB Group was successfully held. The event attracted a large number of current students, young professionals, and African students studying at universities across the Yangtze River Delta region. Representatives from the AfDB Group delivered a detailed interpretation of its global operational layout and its Ten-Year Strategy (2024–2033), cementing its industry positioning as Africa's premier multilateral development finance institution. Among the offerings, the Young Professionals Program (YPP) and overseas internship programs were highly favored by both Chinese and international students. The session concluded with highly enthusiastic interactions.
In the afternoon, China Daily conducted an exclusive interview with Vice President Jacques Edjangue. He noted that the two sides could deepen cooperation in the future around sustainable fisheries, aquaculture, marine science, and blue economy development.
Following the interview, the official MoU signing ceremony was held. Hu Wei, President of Shanghai Ocean University, and Xia Yamin, Vice President of SHOU, attended the ceremony alongside representatives from various functional departments and relevant colleges.
The MoU specifies that the two parties will engage in deep cooperation across five major areas such as fisheries and aquaculture, marine science, blue economy, academic exchange visits, and capability building.
This visit and the signing of the MoU represent a vital initiative by Shanghai Ocean University to actively serve China’s national strategy of opening up and to deepen China-Africa blue economy cooperation. Moving forward, the university will continue to leverage its Double First-Class disciplinary advantages and work hand in hand with the AfDB Group to ensure pragmatic cooperation yields tangible results. Through concrete actions, SHOU aims to deepen China-Africa friendship and contribute more wisdom and strength to building a China-Africa community with a shared future.
Background Information: About the African Development Bank Group
Established in 1964, the African Development Bank Group (AfDB) is one of Africa’s largest and most comprehensively capable multilateral development finance institutions. It serves as the most central capital and policy platform for Africa within the current global development financing system. The bank currently has 82 member states, covering all African nations and key non-regional members, including China, which officially joined in 1985.
The AfDB Group is not merely a regional financial institution, but a crucial execution platform driving Africa’s economic structural transformation and regional integration. It maintains long-term strategic synergies with international organizations such as the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), the World Food Programme (WFP), the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD), and the World Bank. Together, they have built a capital + technology + policy trinity cooperation framework in African agriculture, food security, and sustainable development. Rated as the Best Multilateral Development Bank in the World, the AfDB is an indispensable force in the global development governance system and an irreplaceable hub driving Africa's economic transformation and integration.