Saibou Zakou Souleymane. (COURTESY PHOTO)

By Saibou Zakou Souleymane

I have learned that President Xi Jinping has replied to a letter from representatives of Kenyan students and alumni at the Beijing Jiaotong University, encouraging them to continue contributing to the friendship between China and Kenya and between China and Africa.

As an African studying in China, I share the same sense of inspiration. Like Kenya, my home country Niger has also participated in the joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Since the inception of the BRI, cooperation between China and African countries has further deepened, including in infrastructure and industrial collaboration, trade and cultural exchanges.

The progress has been substantial, benefiting both China and Africa. In terms of infrastructure development, China has engaged in various projects across African countries, including ports, railways and roads, significantly improving Africa's transportation network and promoting its economic development.

I have been a beneficiary of cultural and educational exchanges between our two countries and will seize the opportunity provided by the BRI to act as a messenger for mutual cultural exchange.

In my opinion, the BRI is a crucial international cooperation plan to foster development in such areas as connectivity, trade cooperation and people-to-people exchanges with partner countries. Sino-African cooperation has been a vivid example of this initiative. Through the BRI, Sino-African cooperation continues to achieve breakthroughs and accomplishments, injecting fresh impetus into the development and prosperity of Africa.

Additionally, the BRI has provided more development opportunities for African countries by facilitating trade and investment cooperation, which will help strengthen economic ties between Africa and China, as well as other BRI partner countries.

In summary, the BRI brings immense hope to Africa. It not only contributes to Africa's economic growth, but also fosters friendship and cooperation between China and Africa.

The author is an international student at Tianjin University.