Foreign
CHINA says it has upgraded the China-Africa Economic and Trade Forum and China-Africa Cultural Cooperation and Exchange Month to the China-Africa Economic and Trade Forum in the framework of China-Africa Cooperation Forum.
Zhang Yangbin, Deputy Secretary-General, Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, said this during the opening ceremony of 2024 China-Africa Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province.
The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that the Forum with the theme: “Exchanges and Mutual Learning, People-to-People Bond and Win-Win Cooperation” attracted 400 guests from 40 countries and regions.
It aims to deepen China-Africa traditional friendship, expand China-Africa cooperation on the path to modernisation.
Zhang said that the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation formed basis to draw the new blueprint for China-Africa cooperation.
“This year, the China-Africa Economic and Trade Forum and the China-Africa Cultural Cooperation and Exchange Month were upgraded to the China-Africa Economic and Trade Forum and included in the framework of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum.
“It is expected that the participants will further deepen friendship and seek opportunities on this platform, and make suggestions for China and Africa to jointly promote modernisation.
“The Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries stands ready to work with friends from all over the world.
“This is to build more bridges and bonds to promote the hearts, emotions and strength of the Chinese and African peoples”, Zhang said,
In his keynote, Rahmantala Osman, Permanent Representative of African Union Delegation to China, said China’s investment in Africa played key role in promoting Africa’s modernisation process.
According to him, it is hoped that Africa and China will further strengthen cooperation in education, social security, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, industry, and digitalisation to lead the “global south” to prosperity.
In his remarks, Roger Emmanuel, Acting-Director, Embassy of Congo Brazzaville, said Africa to had the most developing countries.
Emmanuel, also the African co-Chair of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, described China as the world’s largest developing country, saying the friendly relations between Africa and China are a model of win-win cooperation.
“It is hoped that the two sides will deepen mutual trust, share development opportunities and work together to build a better future for Africa and China,” Emmanuel said.
Godius Kahyarara, Permanent Secretary, Tanzanian Ministry of Transport, conveyed Tanzanian President Suluhu Hassan’s appreciation for Africa-China cooperation and congratulations on the success of the forum.
According to him, Tanzania and China have always been each other’s most reliable and trustworthy partners.
Kahyarara said: “This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between Tanzania and China. We sincerely hope that the friendship between the two countries will last forever.”
South African Ambassador to China, Siyabonga Cwele, said that the bilateral relationship between South Africa and China has been growing due to deep political mutual trust.
“It is hoped both sides further strengthen economic cooperation, deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, pool powerful forces of the African and Chinese peoples to jointly move towards modernisation ”, Shengwen said.
NAN report that the Forum was hosted by Zhejiang Provincial People’s Government and organised by Jinhua Municipal People’s Government and Zhejiang Normal University.
It featured display of achievements of the 2024 China-Africa Cultural Silk Road Exchange Month among others.
Highpoint of the event was inauguration of the China-Africa ‘Jinhua’ Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Park.
There was also the signing of the first batch of enterprises settled in Yiwu China-Africa building and Zhejiang-African cooperation projects amounting to about 47.9 billion Yuan. (NAN)
Photo Caption: Speakers during the 2024 China-Africa Economic, Trade and Cultural Forum in Jinhua, Zhejiang province. (NAN)
9th November 2024.
C.E.
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