Development of "Contributing More Youth Strength to African China Friendship" | China | Youth

On November 17, 2021, passengers queued up at Nairobi Station on the Kenya Mombasa Railway to check their tickets and board the train.

Photo by Xinhua News Agency reporter Dong Jianghui

Sakai Photovoltaic Power Station Booster Station located in Binbo City, Central African Republic.

Photo taken by Xinhua News Agency reporter Luo Yu

On April 18, 2023, Wu Dekai visited the CPC History Exhibition Hall in Beijing.

Photo by our reporter Bao Han

On April 23, 2023, Asama took a group photo with African youth representatives at Qingdao Port in Shandong Province.

Image provided by the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation

On April 21, 2023, Luwakasana experienced Chinese tea art in Daolang Town, Tai'an, Shandong.

Photographed by our reporter Chen Shangwen

A 66 kilometer road along Lake Kivu in the western province of Rwanda built by Chinese enterprises.

Provided by China Road and Bridge Engineering Co., Ltd

Mutual respect, understanding, support, and assistance have always been the foundation and main theme of China Africa friendship. This year marks the 10th anniversary of the proposal of the policy concept of genuine sincerity towards Africa and the correct concept of righteousness and benefit. Recently, three African youth who recently visited China told our reporter that through their visits to China, it is not difficult to see that the people of Africa and China are getting closer and closer to each other. The cooperation between Africa and China in various fields is deepening day by day, and traditional friendship has been strengthened over time. Enhancing mutual understanding between young people from Africa and China will strengthen the foundation of future cooperation between the two sides and add new vitality to the construction of a community with a shared future between Africa and China.

"There are too many stories in China worth telling to the world."

"In the 1980s, when I was still in elementary school, I first learned about China." Emili Ruvagasana, the Director of the Office of the Vice Chairman of the African Union Commission, comes from Rwanda. He recalled that China has been tirelessly helping Rwanda build infrastructure such as roads and sports fields since then. "Groups of Chinese builders have selflessly contributed to Rwanda's economic and social development, sowing the seeds of African China friendship in our hearts."

After graduating from university, Ruvagasana became a diplomat. He worked at the Rwandan Embassy in China from 2007 to 2014 and personally participated in large-scale international events such as the Beijing Olympics and the Shanghai World Expo. "Those experiences are still deeply imprinted in my mind, becoming the most beautiful memories in life," said Ruvagasana. Nowadays, more and more international events are being held in China, and an open and confident China is increasingly approaching the center of the world stage.

After returning to China, Ruwagasana joined the African Union to work. He stated that China has become Africa's largest trading partner for many consecutive years, and the African Union attaches great importance to strengthening cooperation with China. Under the framework of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation, African countries and China have continuously achieved new results in practical cooperation in various fields such as trade, agriculture, education, and health. "I feel particularly honored to continue working related to enhancing African China friendship," said Ruvagasana.

In April of this year, Ruwakasana visited China again after a six-year hiatus. The high-speed rail network in China is well connected, providing a convenient and comfortable riding experience; Qingdao Port is empowered by technological innovation, making its development more advantageous... Along the way, seeing China's political stability, economic development, and social tranquility, Luvagasana was amazed, "There are too many stories from China worth telling the world."

In his view, China has not only achieved its own rapid development, but also continued to contribute Chinese wisdom and Chinese programs to the development of the world. "China's initiative to jointly build the the Belt and Road has promoted the infrastructure construction and economic development of African countries, and brought tangible benefits to the African people." Rwanda said that China also proposed at the Beijing summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation of the Forum on China Africa Cooperation in 2018 to provide African countries with Chinese government scholarships, research and training quotas, and invite African youth to China for exchanges. This not only provides valuable opportunities for many African youth to broaden their horizons, enrich their skills, and enhance their competitiveness, but also further enhances mutual understanding between African and Chinese youth, injecting new impetus into future cooperation between the two sides.

"The friendship between Africa and China is built on the basis of long-term mutual respect and understanding, and the depth and breadth of cooperation between Africa and China are immeasurable." Ruvagasana said that in the face of many challenges in the world today, Africa and China will continue to deepen practical cooperation, jointly defend international fairness and justice, and play a crucial role in promoting the construction of a community with a shared future for mankind.

"Studying and living in China is a precious treasure in my life."

Francis Woodcock, a young man from Seychelles, is 27 years old and a market analyst for a trading company. His daily work is closely related to economic and trade cooperation between Seychelles and China. Woodcock told reporters that his Chinese name is "Wu Dekai", and he really likes this name. The good meanings of the two Chinese characters "De" and "Kai" fully reflect the vastness and profoundness of Chinese characters.

Wu Dekai said that when he was young, his understanding of China was limited to the introduction in books. It was not until the 2008 Beijing Olympics that he saw modern buildings such as the Bird's Nest and the Water Cube on television that he realized his understanding of China was far from reality. In early 2016, Wu Dekai participated in a Chinese language course at the Confucius Institute of the University of Seychelles. In September 2018, he went to Dalian University of Technology to study abroad. While majoring in Chinese language, Wu Dekai studied courses such as international business and trade, and gained as much knowledge as possible about China. "The continuous deepening of Africa China cooperation has provided more opportunities for young people. At that time, I only had one idea - to firmly grasp the precious learning opportunities in China," Wu Dekai said.

In addition to studying hard, Wu Dekai's life studying abroad was also rich and colorful. Playing and singing Chinese songs, visiting various parts of China, participating in speech competitions... He recorded every detail of his learning and life in China on social media. "This study abroad experience has greatly benefited me, not only in terms of academic progress, but also in deepening my understanding of China in all aspects," said Wu Dekai.

Nearly a year after graduating and returning to China, Wu Dekai, as a representative of Seychelles youth, came to China in April this year for on-site research. He is in the Jiunvfeng Rural Revitalization Demonstration Zone in Tai'an, Shandong, and has a deep understanding of the local industrial integration development path; Observing the achievements of agricultural technology innovation at the Dongli Rural Complex in Qianque, Weifang. Wu Dekai stated that China's progress in the high-tech field in recent years has provided impetus for promoting high-quality economic development and improving people's livelihoods. "Many innovative attempts have provided valuable reference for African countries such as Seychelles."

After completing the research, Wu Dekai represented the company to attend the 133rd China Import and Export Fair in Guangzhou, where he and his colleagues discussed cooperation with the participating suppliers. "On the African continent," Made in China "has always been a hot word. Chinese goods can be seen everywhere in Seychelles. It is fashionable to use Huawei mobile phones and drive Great Wall Motors locally." Wu Dekai said, "We look forward to more fruitful cooperation between Serbia and China under the framework of jointly building the the Belt and Road."

"The development of China is of great significance to Seychelles, Africa, and even the whole world. I hope more African youth can enter China, perceive China, and understand China!" Wu Dekai said. He not only learned rich knowledge in China, but also gained a deeper understanding of traditional Chinese virtues such as diligence, self-discipline, and resilience. "Studying and living in China is a precious treasure in my life, which prompts me to contribute more youthful strength to the African China friendship."

"Full of confidence in building a new era of African China community with a shared future"

Kwaku Anpensa Asama, born in 1995, currently works in the Project and Planning Department of the Ghana New Patriotic Party. At work, he often communicates and exchanges with colleagues who work far away in China, and in his spare time, he also often meets up with Chinese friends living in the capital city of Accra. "Everyone says that Chinese culture has a deep foundation, a high degree of modernization, and the people are warm and hospitable... All of this makes me very eager, and I always hope to have the opportunity to see it with my own eyes," said Ashama.

In April of this year, Asama finally succeeded in coming to China and visited places such as Beijing and Qingdao. At the CPC History Exhibition Hall in Beijing, the "4D+Six Sides" immersive cinema reappeared the long march, which made Asama feel the hardship of the Chinese revolution; In Taipingjiao Community, Badaguan Street, Qingdao, the modern Party and Mass Service Center has multiple functions and comprehensive services, reflecting a sense of serving the people that has made Ah Xiama feel a lot... Along the way, Ah Xiama listened, learned, and understood.

"The CPC has profoundly changed the future and destiny of China." Ashama said that since the founding of the CPC, it has always regarded working for the happiness of the Chinese people and the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation as its original intention and mission. Under the strong leadership of the CPC, the Chinese people have worked together as one, and achieved great miracles such as poverty alleviation and building a moderately prosperous society in an all-round way. "China has chosen a development path that suits its own national conditions." Ashama believes that Chinese path to modernization is a socialist modernization led by the CPC, which has an important reference significance for the development of the Chinese domestic party.

For a long time, the New Patriotic Party of Ghana has kept close contact with the CPC and actively participated in the high-level dialogue between the CPC and the world political parties, the summit between the CPC and the leaders of the world political parties, etc. Ashama said that the New Patriotic Party pays close attention to the CPC, a century old party with more than 98 million members, and hopes to understand its "secret" of keeping its youth forever and leading the people to constantly create development miracles, and is willing to strengthen exchanges, cooperation, and mutual learning with the CPC. "The CPC insists on taking the people as the center, and the New Patriotic Party also adheres to the same philosophy." Ashama said frankly that the common development goals of Canada and China will further deepen the relations between the two parties and countries.

"During my visit to China, I further realized the important connotation that China is constantly providing new opportunities for the world with new development, which has filled me with confidence in building a community with a shared future for Africa and China in the new era." Asama said that in recent years, China has continuously promoted cooperation in various fields between Africa and China through its own development. Ghana General Hospital Project, Ghana Fishing Port Comprehensive Facilities Project, China Canada Agricultural Luban Workshop, Tamale Flyover and other cooperation achievements between the two countries are the embodiment of Africa China mutual benefit, win-win situation and common development under the framework of jointly building the "the Belt and Road". African countries and China are continuously deepening their friendship, leveraging their respective strengths to closely cooperate, and will play a more positive role in the common development of the world.