• Lomé hosts first China-Africa Dialogue on Governance with 60 participants
  

• Talks focus on infrastructure, innovation, and China-Togo strategic alignment
  

• Event builds on long-standing academic ties and growing bilateral cooperation

The University of Lomé hosted the first China-Africa Dialogue on Governance on Monday and Tuesday, in partnership with the Chinese Embassy. The meeting brought together around 60 participants, including a 15-member delegation of experts from several Chinese institutions, to discuss governance, development, and academic cooperation.

Talks centered on two main themes. The first was cooperation opportunities linked to the fourth session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, particularly in infrastructure, science, and technology. The second focused on the Global Governance Initiative and how it aligns with the strategic partnership between China and Togo. Participants noted areas of alignment between Beijing and Lomé on security, institutional stability, and multilateral cooperation.

Opening the event, Chinese Ambassador Wang Min highlighted the two countries’ demographic weight and the priorities of China’s 15th Five-Year Plan, centered on innovation and openness.

The Togolese side emphasized the value of a dialogue that connects academic research, diplomacy, and public policy. According to Professor Gado Tchangbedji, the meeting should help define new research avenues on Sino-Togolese relations.

Sino-Togolese cooperation is underpinned by academic ties dating back to 2009, with more than 5,000 learners trained by the Confucius Institute at the University of Lomé. In 2024, the university created a dedicated unit to coordinate its partnerships with Chinese institutions. This effort is part of a diplomatic relationship established in 1972 and supported by multiple projects in education, research, and infrastructure. The China-Africa Dialogue in Lomé builds on this foundation, with the aim of creating new opportunities for scientific cooperation.

R.E.D., TogoFirst