On September 21st, 2017, a delegation of the 41st defense and strategic studies courses organized by the National Defense University of PLA visited SIIS. Prof. Yang Jiemian, chairman of SIIS Academic Affairs Council gave a talk on the Belt and Road Initiative and China-Africa cooperation. Led by Rear Admiral Cao Jianqi, political commissar of the International College of Defense Studies of NDU, the delegation was composed of more than 30 senior miliraty officers from African countries including Senegal, Algeria, Niger etc.