"China is a good partner for Africa to explore the path of modernization and development" China | Exchange | Exploration
The 12th session of the China Africa Think Tank Forum was held from May 30th to 31st in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province. Nearly 400 representatives from over 40 African countries, including China, South Africa, and the Gambia, as well as countries such as the United States and Belgium, spoke online and offline on "China Africa Centenary Revival and Cooperation", reviewing the history of friendly cooperation between China and Africa, and discussing the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, Global Civilization Initiative, and China Africa relations. The participants spoke highly of China's true, friendly and sincere policy concept and correct concept of justice and benefit towards Africa, and discussed and exchanged views on Chinese path to modernization and the African Union's 2063 Agenda and other topics.
China is the largest developing country in the world, and Africa is the continent with the most concentrated developing countries. China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future. This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of the predecessor of the African Union, the Organization of African Unity. For the past 60 years, China and Africa have shared weal and woe, and watched and helped each other. No matter how the international situation changes, China always stands together with Africa, sailing through thick and thin. Especially in the past decade, guided by the principles of genuine, friendly, and sincere policies towards Africa, as well as the correct concept of righteousness and benefit, the development of China Africa relations has pressed the "accelerator button" and entered the "fast lane".
Think Tank Forum Becoming a Brand Project for Cultural Exchange between China and Africa
Cultural exchanges and cooperation are important components of China Africa cooperation in the new era, and are an important part of the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Africa. In recent years, exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa in fields such as culture and education have been expanding, achieving positive results, and the public opinion foundation of China Africa friendship has been continuously consolidated. With the rapid development of China Africa relations, both sides have recognized the importance of academic exchange and cooperation, and are increasingly valuing the role of think tanks.
"The China Africa Think Tank Forum is an important sub forum under the framework of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation. Since its establishment, it has become a brand project for cultural exchanges between China and Africa, effectively promoting exchanges and mutual learning among think tanks in China and Africa, providing intellectual support and playing an important role in promoting the development of China Africa relations." Liu Yuxi, the Special Representative of the Chinese government for African Affairs, stated in his speech that China and Africa support each other and closely cooperate in international affairs. The African side has always provided valuable support on issues related to China's core interests and major concerns, actively responding to global development initiatives, global security initiatives, and global civilization initiatives, and jointly adhering to true multilateralism. China has always stood up for Africa in multilateral occasions, supported Africa in pursuing a development path that is in line with its own national conditions, and firmly supported Africa in playing a greater role on the world stage.
Former South African President Kalima Motlanti stated that Africa and China can learn from each other in many fields such as economy, politics, and society. African countries have been exploring how to achieve national prosperity, promote economic and social development, and improve people's living standards. China has made tremendous contributions to eliminating absolute poverty for the world, inspiring African countries to work towards this goal. Currently, poverty reduction cooperation between Africa and China has established a solid foundation, and both sides should continue to strengthen cooperation in this field.
"African countries highly admire an ancient Chinese saying: 'Teaching people to fish is better than teaching them to fish,' which embodies a Chinese style philosophy of cooperation. Pierre Gomez, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Technology of the Gambia, stated that China's reform and development experience provides valuable reference for the Gambia.". The Gambia is promoting the establishment of technical and vocational education training centers, hoping to strengthen cooperation with China in the field of education, especially vocational education, and bring benefits to the people.
Pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa promotes the modernization process in Africa
Chinese path to modernization and the African Union's 2063 Agenda are among the hot topics discussed by the participants. Charles Onunaiju, director of the Nigerian China Research Center, said that Chinese path to modernization has set a good example for developing countries, especially African countries. At present, the African continent faces many challenges. We hope to enhance exchanges with China, understand the path of Chinese path to modernization, learn from China's experience in sustainable development, boost Africa's modernization process, and promote the formation of more practical cooperation achievements under the framework of Africa China cooperation.
"China is a reliable friend of Africa, and Gabon is eager to learn from the experience of Chinese path to modernization." Martin Edzima, director of the General Secretary's Office of Gabon's Democratic Party, shared his views on the whole process of people's democracy development in China based on his visit to Zhejiang. He said that we visited the People's Congress Representative Liaison Station in Zhejiang and learned that the People's Congress system is an important institutional carrier for achieving full process people's democracy. The people exercise state power through the People's Congress, and people's congresses at all levels are democratically elected, responsible to the people, and subject to their supervision. National People's Congress deputies should listen to the opinions and suggestions of the people, and timely reflect the voices of the people.
"African countries and China have conducted fruitful cooperation in various fields," said Alfa Mohammad Jallow, Dean of the African China Research Institute at Marconi University in Sierra Leone. African China cooperation focuses on the long-term and continuously explores new potential for cooperation. He said that before attending the forum, the representatives visited Yiwu International Trade City, which is truly an international market where you can almost buy any desired product at a good price. In his view, the African continent is rich in human and natural resources and has enormous development potential. Through the joint construction of the "the Belt and Road" initiative and the China Africa Cooperation Forum mechanism, China supports African countries in building infrastructure such as communication, power, transportation, which has greatly boosted Africa's modernization and made important contributions to the implementation of the African Union's 2063 Agenda.
Strengthening exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa on the basis of equality and mutual benefit
At this year's China Africa Think Tank Forum, African participants highly praised the Global Development Initiative, Global Security Initiative, and Global Civilization Initiative, hoping that these initiatives can further promote the deepening and implementation of building a new era of China Africa community with a shared future.
Daryl Swanepur, CEO of the South African Institute for Inclusive Society, stated that China's investment in Africa is now shifting more towards the manufacturing sector, which is of great help to Africa in promoting its own industrial development.
"China is Africa's good partner in exploring the path of modern development." Olalekan Oxdin Babatuende, a researcher at the Nigerian Institute for Peace and Conflict Resolution, said that the implementation of the "the Belt and Road" initiative and the global development initiative will help Africa ensure food and energy security, create more jobs and promote economic and social development.
Mwendangka Musengo, Dean and Advisor to the Prime Minister of the Congo National Academy of Arts, said that Africa and China have always respected and helped each other. After the independence of Congo, China provided support and assistance from all aspects, assisting in the construction of many projects such as the People's Palace, Martyrs Stadium, Friendship Hospital, and government office buildings. At present, not far from the People's Palace, the Central African Cultural and Art Center, shaped like an African drum, is in the final sprint stage of completion. He believes that one important reason for the long-standing friendship between Africa and China is that China respects Africa's independently chosen development path, does not impose its own values and development models on others, and conducts exchanges and cooperation with African countries on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. The China Africa Think Tank Forum is an important platform for promoting cultural exchange and mutual learning, allowing us to listen to each other and understand each other.
