The institute also assumes the responsibility of cultivating talents for African countries. According to Liu, more than 3,000 people from Africa, including scholars, government officials and international students, have received education at the institute.

Additionally, the institute has established four Confucius Institutes and a few Chinese teaching centers in Africa.

A female researcher at IASZNU directs the first China-Africa co-directed documentary film Africans in Yiwu to tell the stories of African people in China. [Photo/zjol.com.cn]

However, in Liu's eyes, African studies in China still have a long way to go. "There are a lot of shortcomings in our African studies system," the scholar said, proposing that the teaching, research and talent cultivation work should be further strengthened to meet the demands of increasing China-Africa ties.