STORY: Chinese-funded link road launched at Confucius Institute of Kenyan university
SHOOTING TIME: Nov. 22, 2023
DATELINE: Nov. 23, 2023
LENGTH: 00:03:54
LOCATION: Nairobi
CATEGORY: CULTURE/EDUCATION

SHOTLIST:
1. various of exteriors of Kenyatta University
2. various of commissioning of the road
3. various of tour of the road
4. SOUNDBITE 1 (English): PAUL WAINAINA, Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor
5. various of tree planting
6. SOUNDBITE 2 (English): LUO ZICHENG, Deputy General Manager of China Wu Yi Kenya branch
7. various of entertainment

STORYLINE:

A paved road linking Confucius Institute of Kenyatta University, Kenya's second oldest university, to other campus buildings, which was funded and constructed by China Wu Yi, was launched Wednesday.

Senior university administrators, faculty members, executives from China Wu Yi Kenya branch and students graced the ribbon cutting and tree planting ceremony to inaugurate the recently completed link road.

Paul Wainaina, Kenyatta University vice-chancellor, said the construction of a link road will facilitate access to the international language and culture center which hosts Confucius Institute.

According to Wainaina, a partnership with China Wu Yi, which also funded the construction of the Confucius Institute building at Kenyatta University, has reinvigorated Sino-Kenyan academic and cultural ties.

Wainaina said through a partnership with Shandong Normal University, Kenya's second oldest university has established a vibrant center for teaching Chinese language and culture.

SOUNDBITE 1 (English): PAUL WAINAINA, Kenyatta University Vice-Chancellor"We have had student exchanges. We have had student and staff exchanges and training. We have had staff who have been coming to the institute, paid for by the government of China. They would come and teach those short courses after a while they go. So that has been really very good."

He added that local students who have studied basic Chinese language courses have secured opportunities to pursue majors like engineering at universities in China.

Luo Zicheng, the deputy general manager of China Wu Yi Kenyan branch, said the construction of Kenyatta University's international language and culture center alongside the link road has injected vitality into Sino-Kenyan friendship.

SOUNDBITE 2 (English): LUO ZICHENG, Deputy General Manager of China Wu Yi Kenya branch"This new infrastructure has aided greatly the accessibility to this complex and through this work, we are very glad to have contributed and left a little mark to this great institution. We look forward to having more future opportunities of collaboration to strengthen Kenya-China friendship." 
Leonard Kisovi, chairman of the board of directors of Kenyatta University's Confucius Institute, said that now that a paved access road has been completed, the teaching of basic and advanced Mandarin courses will be smooth. Kisovi said the modern Chinese language teaching center has raised the enthusiasm among Kenyan youth keen to improve their proficiency in Mandarin.

Xinhua News Agency correspondents reporting from Nairobi.
(XHTV)