BEIJING, May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- When Ismail Zabeeh enrolled as a doctoral student at the Institute of South-South Cooperation and Development (ISSCAD) at Peking University, he had already served as a state minister in the Maldives. What drew him back to a classroom was the chance to study development through the firsthand experience of countries that have undergone rapid development themselves.
Zabeeh is far from alone. Eric Dodoo-Amoo, who heads the China Desk of the Ministry of Finance of Ghana, is an ISSCAD graduate from the class of 2022. On April 29, 2026, both came to PKU's Yingjie Overseas Exchange Center to join students and alumni from around the world in marking the institute's 10th anniversary, celebrated with a forum on sustainable development in the Global South.
Founded in 2016, ISSCAD was built on a premise that remains rare in international development education: that developing countries have generated their own body of knowledge worth studying systematically.
"The most important innovation of this institute is that it draws on the development experience of China and other developing countries," said Justin Yifu Lin, ISSCAD's honorary dean and a former chief economist of the World Bank.
The anniversary forum brought together government leaders, scholars, and diplomats. PKU Council Chair He Guangcai and senior officials from the China International Development Cooperation Agency, the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Education reaffirmed their commitment to the institute as a platform for talent development, policy research, and international exchange.
Arkebe Oqubay, a former senior minister of Ethiopia and a leading scholar on industrial policy in Africa, called the coming decade a critical window for deepening South-South cooperation. Abigail Shoniwa, Zimbabwe's ambassador to China, noted that Zimbabwean policymakers have drawn directly on insights gained through ISSCAD programs.
A special lighting ceremony and flag parade featuring students and alumni from more than 80 countries marked the 10th anniversary, symbolizing unity and shared aspirations of the Global South.
Over the past decade, the institute has trained senior officials, diplomats, and scholars from across Africa, Asia, Latin America, and the Pacific, offering doctoral and master's programs that combine academic research with policy fieldwork in China.
As ISSCAD enters its second decade, Lin laid out an aspiration: for the institute to grow into a globally recognized center for academic innovation and knowledge exchange among developing nations.
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A Decade of Learning Across Borders: PKU's South-South Institute Turns 10
GUANGZHOU, China, May 3, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- At the exhibition area of the 139th Canton Fair's Toys & Children, Baby and Maternity Products category, exhibitors are presenting products that merge smart technology, educational value and sustainable materials, responding to the evolving expectations of global families seeking safe, creative, and smart parenting solutions.
Parenting products have put a focus on smart, multi-functional design. An intelligent soothing pendant uses voice recognition to detect a baby's cry and automatically play music, while a self-rotating smart car seat improves convenience of use by automatic turning.
Further innovations emphasize convenience and integrated care. A wireless diaper-changing baby scale combines multiple functions for daily care and health monitoring, alongside an electric cradle and a one-touch foldable crib that enable effortless setup and hands-free parenting.
Newly released products highlight the educational wooden toys sector's momentum. A miniature wooden kitchen set, crafted from FSC certified natural wood and coated with water-based paint, meets major international safety standards and supports early life skills development. Alongside it, an ocean themed multifunctional play table introduces a modular approach to early learning. Built from natural wood and finished with food grade coatings and rounded edges, the table integrates geometric cognition, musical exploration, and logic training. It represents a meaningful step in the evolution of traditional wooden toys toward more interactive early education tools.
Sustainability remains a defining thread across the category. A series of thick wooden puzzles illustrates how recycled materials can be developed into durable, affordable and educational products. Made with a significant proportion of medium‑density fiberboard derived from reclaimed wood fibers, the puzzles reflect efficient resource use while demonstrating how manufacturers integrate function, durability and cost‑effectiveness into their design considerations. Their handcrafted texture and cultural warmth further underscore a commitment to greener, more responsible production.
In an age shaped by AI and diversified consumption needs, traditional maternity and child product makers are finding fresh relevance. While preserving an emotional warmth, they are introducing smart interaction, joyful educational design, and greener materials, giving the classic category a modern spark and renewing its appeal for today's families.
For pre-registration, please click: https://buyer.cantonfair.org.cn/register/buyer/email?source_type=16
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A New Vision for Smart Parenting Unveiled at Toys & Children, Baby and Maternity Products Category of 139th Canton Fair
