China-Kenya Cooperation: World's only Confucius Institute specializing in agriculture appeals to Kenyans

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54 Confucius Institutes have been established in Africa over the years, as ties with countries in the continent get stronger. Those non-profit public institutions offer a platform for cultural exchanges. Many may relate the Confucius Institutes to the Chinese language, but in Kenya's Egerton University, there's something unique and different. CGTN's He Weiwei has more.

This is a laboratory for Crop Molecular Biology at Kenya's Egerton University, the most advanced lab of its kind in East Africa. Jointly built by China and Kenya in 2016, it appeals to African students.

SARAH NYAMOITA STUDENT, EGERTON UNIVERSITY "This lab has helped me, because of the equipment that it has. You saw the artificial intelligent climate box, it offers good temperature and humidity for the plants."

Thanks to state-of-the-art equipment, a lot of experiments can be conducted here.

ZHANG HONGSHENG DIRECTOR, CHINA-KENYA JOINT LABORATORY FOR CROP MOLECULAR BIOLOGY "We found anti-disease genes from wild tomatoes in Kenya, and we can use them to cultivate a new type of tomato resistant to common disease."

This lab doesn't belong to any biology faculty member, but to the university's Confucius Institute, which - apart from teaching Chinese - specializes in agriculture.

HE WEIWEI EGERTON UNIVERSITY, KENYA "Different from any other Confucius Institute in the world, this one has a large piece of farmland here, where Chinese teachers give practical training to local students."

The farmland is called Agro Science Park. It grows a variety of plants and crops for study, including rice, corn and wheat. Chinese professors from Nanjing Agriculture University have worked here for years.

PAUL K. KIMURTO DIRECTOR OF AGRO SCIENCE PARK, EGERTON UNIVERSITY "The Confucius Institute has given us technology. We receive Chinese professors, they come to train us, and also come to train farmers."

According to official data, agriculture is one of the key sectors of Kenya's economy, accounting for over 30% of the country's GDP. But many farmers work without proper knowledge or updated technology, so there's huge demand for agricultural professionals.

LI ZHENHONG DIRECTOR OF CONFUCIUS INSTITUTE, EGERTON UNIVERSITY "We have a lot of graduates who not only understand Chinese language and culture, but also know agriculture very well. They're very popular on job markets."

Established in 2012, the Confucius Institute has over eight thousand students registered. HWW, CGTN, KENYA.