From November 3 to 6, 2025, a delegation from Yunnan Arts University (YNAU) visited Egypt for art education exchange, achieving fruitful, milestone results. During the trip, the delegation visited three prestigious art institutions: the Academy of Arts, October University for Modern Sciences and Arts (MSA University), and Badr University in Cairo (BUC), and officially signed memorandums of cooperation with two of them. This signifies a historic breakthrough in YNAU's art education cooperation on the African continent, pioneering a regular cooperation mechanism between the university and African art institutions, and marking an important milestone in advancing substantive and institutionalized China-Africa art education cooperation.

This visit is a concrete action by YNAU to actively support the Belt and Road Initiative and carry out the spirit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. It is also a key measure for the university to advance high-level opening-up at the beginning of the Fifteenth Five-Year Plan. Through a series of activities—including high-level talks, field inspections, and agreement signing—the delegation fully showcased YNAU's educational philosophy of "inheriting tradition, learning from the folk, embracing both Chinese and Western cultures, and serving society," thereby contributing the power of art education to building a China-Africa community with a shared future.

Affiliated with the Egyptian Ministry of Culture, the Academy of Arts is a comprehensive public institution of higher learning in the arts. As one of the most prestigious and long-standing art education authorities in Egypt and even the Arab world, it is dedicated to nurturing art professionals and high-level artists. The delegation went to the frontline of teaching of the Academy, observing professional classes in violin, harp, piano, marimba, and ballet, as well as visiting the folk museum, which boasts an extensive collection. Founded in the 19th century, this art academy is renowned across the Arab world for its rigorous admissions process, solid training in traditional techniques, and forward-looking curriculum. During his meeting with the Academy's president, Professor Ghada Gobara, Li Jianyu remarked, "Egypt is a key representative of African, Arab, and Islamic civilizations. Both China and Egypt are ancient countries with five thousand years of brilliant history. Deepening cooperation in art education will not only help promote academic development but also bring new vitality to the profound dialogues between these two great civilizations." He further stressed, "Art, as a universal language shared by humanity, serves as a unique and vital bridge in this process. YNAU's approach to the inheritance and innovation of ethnic and folk arts aligns closely with the Academy's philosophy of 'solid training in traditional techniques,' establishing a strong foundation for future collaboration between the two institutions."

Adopting the British higher education model, MSA University focuses on interdisciplinary integration and emphasizes practical ability training. It is a multidisciplinary comprehensive university committed to cultivating students' overall competence. President Dr. Nader El Bokl personally led the management team for an in-depth exchange with the delegation. Both parties engaged in a spirited discussion on the theme of "innovation in art education in the context of multidisciplinary integration," and together visited the annual Harvest Design Exhibition, which has become a flagship program of MSA. Since its inception in 2013, the exhibition has been held annually, showcasing MSA's innovative achievements in design education. During the exchange, Li Jianyu remarked, "The collaboration between Chinese and African art institutions will spark new possibilities as the artistic essence of Oriental ink painting meets the aesthetics of Arabic geometry, enabling young Chinese and Egyptian artists to appreciate each other's culture through joint creation." This vision closely aligns with YNAU's longstanding educational philosophy of "embracing both Chinese and Western cultures and serving society." In a dignified but enthusiastic atmosphere, both sides signed a memorandum of cooperation, which encompasses teacher and student exchange, academic exchange, and joint artistic creation, among other areas.

BUC, a rising higher education institution in Egypt, is dedicated to modern applied sciences and international-standard education, with a strong emphasis on technological innovation and the integration of industry and academia. Its mission is to nurture talent equipped to meet the demands of the global market. BUC has established collaborations with several renowned universities in China, including Peking University and Tongji University. These partnerships span a wide range of areas, such as Chinese language education, medicine, digital intelligence technology, and teacher and student exchanges. The delegation was warmly welcomed by a management team led by President Professor Ashraf Mohamed El-Shihy (former Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research of Egypt), which encompassed Vice President Mahmoud Fahmy Elsabahy (Advisor to the Egyptian President for Scientific Research). Established in 2014, this emerging university demonstrates a contemporary blend of art and technology, with its School of Applied Arts offering programs that showcase distinctive trends of the modern era. The delegation placed particular focus on the teaching practices and industry-academia collaboration achievements of the School of Filmmaking and Performing Arts and the School of Applied Arts. BUC gave a special introduction to the Hurghada Youth Film Festival, a project with significant influence in the Arab region, and extended an official invitation to the faculty and students at YNAU. Li Jianyu emphasized, "Collaboration between Chinese and African art institutions will not only further deepen inter-school relationships, but also actively contribute to cultural exchange among countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. Through collaboration, more Egyptian youth will gain a genuine and multifaceted understanding of China, while more Chinese students will experience Egypt’s unique charm. Art will serve as a window for spiritual connection, and cooperation will become a bridge to the future, infusing enduring artistic vitality into China-Egypt friendship."

This visit has yielded substantial results. YNAU has signed memorandums of cooperation with two leading Egyptian art institutions, establishing a regular exchange mechanism. Collaborative platforms have been created across various artistic disciplines, including film, dance, fine arts, and design. Notably, the Hurghada Youth Film Festival will serve as a vital gateway for YNAU's works to reach the Arab world. The visit has also initiated an in-depth dialogue between Chinese and African art education institutions on the preservation and innovation of traditional arts.

This groundbreaking visit has not only expanded YNAU's art education cooperation network in Africa, but also resulted in multiple agreements with Egyptian peers in areas such as artistic talent development, the preservation and innovation of traditional arts, and interdisciplinary collaboration. These achievements have brought fresh momentum to the in-depth dialogue between China and Egypt in the field of art education, showcasing YNAU's unique appeal and influence on the global stage of international art education.

Looking ahead, YNAU will continue to deepen pragmatic cooperation with art institutions in Egypt and across Africa. By establishing mechanisms for faculty and student exchanges, co-building academic resource platforms, and advancing collaborative creation and research, we aim to promote the shared development of art education in China and Africa. As part of the great journey to build a China-Africa community with a shared future, YNAU is crafting a new chapter of exchanges and mutual learning among civilizations through the distinctive language of art. As cooperative projects are put into practice, China-Africa art education cooperation will yield even more fruitful results, contributing the wisdom and strength of Chinese art education to the dialogue among global civilizations.

This visit was covered by many local media outlets in Egypt.