On May 13, 2025, a delegation from the Beijing Changier Education Foundation, along with the China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE), engaged in several significant visits and exchange activities in Antananarivo, the capital of Madagascar. These efforts aim to further deepen and strengthen civil cooperation between China and Madagascar in the areas of education, public welfare, and women's empowerment, marking a new chapter in China-Africa friendship.

Discussing development

Beijing Changier Education Foundation visited the Economic Development Board of Madagascar

All participants watched the promotional video in Chinese from the Economic Development Board of Madagascar.

That morning, the delegation visited the Economic Development Board of Madagascar and held in-depth discussions with Director Ms. Josielle Rafidy and Ms. Adriannie Tamoha, Head of the Investment Services Department. Li Jun, former Vice Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee and Vice President of CNIE, highlighted in his speech that Madagascar holds significant potential for collaboration with Chinese enterprises in agriculture, technology, environmental protection, and health sectors. He expressed hope that this exchange would pave the way for a more efficient and seamless economic and trade cooperation channel.

Zhang Xiang, Deputy Director of the Asset Management Committee at the Beijing Changier Education Foundation, delivered a speech.

At the meeting, Zhang Yinjun, President of the Beijing Changier Education Foundation, shared the foundation's project experiences in Africa. She stated that Changier had implemented AIDS prevention education and medication assistance projects in countries such as Gabon, Guinea, and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, helping over 1,200 individuals alleviate symptoms with positive outcomes. Zhang Yinjun also proposed that the foundation plans to establish a "Maternal Love University" in Africa, concentrating on women's skills training and children's education. Additionally, there are plans to set up a dedicated fund for African aid to support long-term donations of educational materials and grassroots development.

President Zhang Yinjun and Deputy Director Zhang Xiang engaged in an enthusiastic discussion with the Director of the Economic Development Bureau (second from left) after the meeting.

Ms. Josielle Rafidy, Director of the Economic Development Board of Madagascar, highly commended the social responsibility of Chinese organizations. She noted that the visit of Chinese enterprises and social organizations aligns with the country's three key development strategies: enhancing human resource capabilities, accelerating industrialization, and promoting transparency in governance. Ms. Rafidy welcomes the increased focus on education and vulnerable groups by organizations such as the Beijing Changier Education Foundation, and she expressed her willingness to provide support regarding policies, tariffs, and customs clearance of goods.

Dialogue among civilizations

Beijing Changier Education Foundation visited the Confucius Institute in Antananarivo

In the afternoon, the delegation visited the Confucius Institute in Antananarivo and was warmly welcomed by the directors, teachers, and students from both China and Madagascar. The institute made special arrangements for students to perform songs and dances to highlight the fusion of Chinese and Malagasy cultures.

During the discussion, President Zhang Yinjun fondly reflected on her connections with the Confucius Institute and Hanban, and expressed her hope for future collaborative efforts between Maternal Love University and the Confucius Institute on a global scale. She stated, "Maternal love is a universal human emotion and the most gentle bridge for cultural exchange." Changier is ready to use Maternal Love University as a platform to collaboratively establish a global humanities education network with Confucius Institutes.

Li Jun, Vice President of the CNIE (center), presented a calligraphy piece to the Confucius Institute.

The delegation engaged in discussions and collaboration with Wei Zuqin (The second one on the left), the Chinese director of the Confucius Institute, and Yulan (The third one on the right), the Malagasy director of the Confucius Institute.

Wei Zuqin, the Chinese Director of the Confucius Institute, highlighted the institute's teaching achievements and cultural activities, emphasizing that it has become a key platform for educational and grassroots cooperation between China and Madagascar. Li Jun, Vice President of the CNIE, also praised the significant role of Confucius Institutes in fostering China-Africa cultural exchanges and looks forward to deep collaboration between the Beijing Changier Education Foundation and Confucius Institutes in the realm of cultural education.

Common mission

Visiting the Axian foundation to explore opportunities for philanthropic collaboration

Dominique Andreas, Head of Public Affairs and Institutional Relations at the Axian Foundation (The first one on the right), and Jessica Razakamanantsoa, Community Relations Manager (The first one on the left), introduced the foundation's activities to the guests.

In the evening, the delegation visited the Axian Foundation, a part of Madagascar's renowned multinational enterprise group, Axian. The foundation focuses on four major public welfare areas: education, healthcare, sports, and water resources. In recent years, it has renovated or built over 200 schools and enhanced people's livelihoods through projects like mobile hospitals and solar power generation.

Representatives of the Axian Foundation and the Changier delegation posed for a cordial group photo.

President Zhang Yinjun engaged in discussions on cooperation in the field of education, inquiring whether the Axian Foundation provides deeper support, such as teacher training. Axian responded that it is currently focusing on engineering funding and indirectly promoting educational development through cooperation with the Malagasy departments of education. Zhang Yinjun stated that the Beijing Changier Education Foundation is committed to supporting educational content in areas such as AIDS prevention, sexual health, and mental health. They aim to explore a new model of "hardware + content" public welfare cooperation between China and Africa, providing more sustainable empowerment solutions for African women and children.

Through this series of visits, the Beijing Changier Education Foundation not only gained a deeper understanding of Madagascar's national development strategy and the needs of its people, but also laid a solid foundation for the future location and establishment of "Maternal Love University" in Africa. In the future, the Beijing Changier Education Foundation will continue to leverage its expertise in AIDS prevention, women's empowerment, and family education, working alongside CNIE and local African organizations to deepen and solidify China-Africa grassroots cooperation. This collaboration aims to contribute the wisdom and strength of Chinese social organizations to the development of a China-Africa community with a shared future.

President Zhang Yinjun, along with Wang Changkun, Minister of the International Affairs Department, Zhang Xiang, Deputy Director of the Asset Management Committee, and Chen Xiaoyun, Vice President of the Maternal Love Academie and President of the Lingnan Academy of Maternal Education, participated together in the aforementioned visit activities.