As part of the decentralized international cooperation between the City of Rufisque and the City of Zhoushan (China), an official scholarship certificate award ceremony was held on Monday, September 8, 2025, at the conference room of the Rufisque City Hall. The meeting, chaired by Mayor Dr. Oumar Cissé, took place in the presence of two representatives of the Chinese Embassy in Senegal, including Ms. Lee, Minister Counselor. It marked the departure of the three Rufisque students selected to pursue a three-year Master's degree at Zhejiang Ocean University, in the following fields: aquaculture, marine biology, food processing and safety.

A strategic partnership

As a reminder, in September 2024, while on a mission to China, the mayor of Rufisque signed a partnership agreement with the city of Zhoushan. This agreement, initialed on September 27, 2024, covers ten priority areas: deep-sea fishing, trade in aquatic products, marine aquaculture, education and technical and vocational training, environment and sustainable development, coastal protection, health, culture, tourism, sports, and youth exchanges. "Education is at the heart of this commitment. With our partners in Zhoushan, we have chosen to start with this strategic sector," said Mayor Dr. Oumar Cissé. He recalled that the selection process for beneficiaries had been "rigorous and transparent."

It should be noted that a call for applications was circulated in the press. From the applications received, nine students were preselected by a municipal commission. Zhejiang Ocean University then conducted videoconference interviews before selecting three candidates. They will therefore be Rufisque ambassadors in China. "These students are not only scholarship recipients. They are also Rufisque ambassadors in Zhoushan," emphasized Ms. Lee, representing the Chinese ambassador. She encouraged the winners to fly the flag for their city and contribute to intercultural exchanges. She reaffirmed China's willingness to support Senegal. "We are working tirelessly to consolidate friendship, cooperation, and exchanges between China and Senegal," she concluded.