Recently, Wang Hongyuan, Chairman of University Council, BFU, led a delegation to visit Ethiopia and Nigeria to meet with the heads of local forestry and environment departments, and local councillors of the field. The delegation visited China's foreign embassies, the local chamber of commerce and related enterprises, and visited BFU alumni working and studying in the two countries. During the period, Wang Hongyuan and the delegation carried out in-depth exchanges with these units on scientific research, personnel training, discipline construction, personnel exchange visits, joint laboratory construction and other aspects, and signed three memorandums of understanding to promote the international cooperation and exchanges between BFU and overseas universities and educational institutions.

In Ethiopia, the delegation held talks with officials from the Ethiopian Forestry Development Agency. Wang Hongyuan expressed gratitude to them for their support of the work of local alumni of BFU. He emphasized the need for both sides to further strengthen communication and broaden the scope of cooperation in the forestry field and jointly cultivate young talent that promotes ecological civilization and contributes to the construction of a global ecological civilization and the building of a community with a shared future for China and Africa. The two sides had full exchanges and in-depth discussions on cooperation areas such as scholar visits, capacity building, short-term training and joint research institutes, focusing on green heritage, the Great Green Wall of Africa program and ecological restoration.

In Nigeria, the delegation met with Chinese Ambassador to Nigeria Cui Jianchun. Wang Hongyuan introduced the achievements of BFU in international cooperation in school-running in recent years, hoping to carry out more cooperation with Nigeria and other African countries to continuously enhance the global influence of BFU. Ambassador Cui Jianchun introduced Nigeria's history and economic and social development, with emphasis on the current China-Nigeria diplomatic situation and bilateral cooperation in higher education, ecological civilization and other fields.

The delegation held talks with representatives of the China General Chamber of Commerce in Nigeria and Chinese enterprises. Wang Hongyuan show honour to the Chinese enterprises and their staff who have been deeply engaged in Nepal for a long time. He said that BFU will provide support for overseas enterprises in talent training and green technology innovation, and serve Chinese enterprises in countries along the "Belt and Road" to "go outside". The two sides visited Chinese enterprises such as China-Turkey Nigeria Co., LTD. and China Aid Nigeria Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center to learn about the contribution of Chinese enterprises in promoting local economic development and improving people's livelihood, and conducted research on industry-university-research cooperation between the two sides in forest and furniture.

The delegates met with the Minister of Environment of Nigeria and held discussions with the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Environment of Nigeria, the Academy of Forestry Sciences, the Association of Nigerian Entrepreneurs, the Nigerian-Chinese Committee and parliamentarians from 5 forest-rich states. Wang Hongyuan said that Beijing Forestry University, as the top green university in China, continues to promote global green development and support the United Nations 2030 Sustainable development goals with the guidance of Xi Jinping's Thought on Ecological Civilization, and BFU will contribute more to a better homeland for mankind together with the Nepali. The Nepali side introduced the overall development of local forestry, expressed the need for practical cooperation with the university, and hoped that the BFU would strengthen cooperation in helping the development of bamboo industry, ecological restoration, desertification prevention and control, wildlife protection, national park construction, forest product trade and other fields, focusing on capacity building, scholar exchange visits, joint scientific research and other aspects.

During the visit, the delegation also visited the Chinese and African alumni of the BFU African Regional Alumni Association working and living in the two countries, as well as short-term foreign aid training personnel. Wang Hongyuan gave care and encouragement to the alumni, hoping that they carry forward the spirit of BFU and dedicate themselves to their career.

It is reported that BFU has 12 African alumni working in the Ethiopian Forestry Development Authority, including the Secretary-General of the Nepal-China General Chamber of Commerce working in Nepal and some senior executives in Chinese-funded enterprises.

Heads of President's Office, Office for International Relations, retirement office, Cares for the Next Generation Working Committee, and other departments of BFU accompanied the visit.