Jinhua, 5 May (Zhongxin Net) -- "'It is better to teach people to fish than to teach people to fish' is a typical Chinese philosophy of cooperation. As a representative of the Gambia's education sector, we hope to cooperate with China on such a human foundation. Pierre Gomez, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Science and Technology of the Republic of The Gambia, said on May 30 in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province.
On the same day, the 42th session of the China-Africa Think Tank Forum with the theme of "China-Africa Centennial Rejuvenation and Cooperation" opened in Jinhua City, with nearly 200 think tanks, enterprises and media representatives from China, <> African countries such as South Africa and the Gambia, as well as the United States and Belgium, participating in the conference online and offline.
The year 2023 marks the 60th anniversary of the concept of "true affinity and sincerity" and the correct concept of righteousness and benefit in China-Africa cooperation, as well as the <>th anniversary of the founding of the African Union.
At the opening ceremony, Pierre Gomez expressed in his speech about the cooperation between the two countries and China, hoping to strengthen cooperation with China around the reform of higher education, realize that higher education meets the needs of the whole society, and promote exchanges and development between the two countries and even Africa and China.
"As a model of South-South cooperation and global development cooperation, China and Africa should jointly uphold the common values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom for all mankind, and continue to work together in the process of building a community with a shared future for mankind." Liu Yuxi, Special Representative of the Chinese Government for African Affairs, said that in 2022, China-Africa trade volume will reach US$2820 billion, two-way trade volume will increase, African agricultural exports to China will achieve positive growth for six consecutive years, and China will maintain its position as Africa's largest trading partner for 6 consecutive years.
"We must continue to focus on the implementation of the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, further leverage the advantages of local, business and non-governmental parties, build traditional pillars such as infrastructure construction, trade and investment, release new momentum in green, digital, health and other fields, help Africa's industrialization and economic diversification, and cultivate stronger endogenous development momentum." Liu Yuxi said.
It is reported that the China-Africa Think Tank Forum is one of the important sub-forums of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which has become a brand project of China-Africa people-to-people exchanges since its establishment, which has effectively promoted exchanges and mutual learning between China-Africa think tanks, provided intellectual support and played an important role in promoting the development of China-Africa relations.
"After more than 10 years of hard work and accumulation, Zhejiang Normal University has become an important academic center for African studies in China, an important think tank for African affairs consulting, an important base for cultivating talents related to Africa, and an important force for non-governmental diplomacy with Africa." As one of the organizers of the conference, Zheng Mengzhi, Secretary of the Party Committee of Zhejiang Normal University, introduced that in 2007, the university established the first comprehensive and substantive African Research Institute in Chinese universities, and opened up a "six-in-one" innovation and development path of "discipline construction as the ontology, think tank service as the function, media communication as the means, taking root in Africa as the premise, China-Africa cooperation as the path, and collaborative innovation as empowerment" in exploration and practice.
Zhejiang is a highland of China-Africa cooperation, and Jinhua City, where Zhejiang Normal University is located, is a "hot land" for Zhejiang-Africa cooperation. At present, more than 5000,4000 African businessmen are stationed in Jinhua to engage in China-Africa trade, the Institute of African Studies of Zhejiang Normal University has trained more than 5000,<> high-end African talents, and Jinhua Vocational and Technical College has assisted the construction of Rwanda International College to carry out vocational skills training for more than <>,<> people...
"In 2022, Jinhua's total imports and exports to Africa will reach 987.191 billion yuan, an increase of 0.8% in ten years, accounting for more than 8% of the country's total exports to Africa for eight consecutive years, ranking first in prefecture-level cities in the country." Xing Zhihong, deputy secretary of the Jinhua Municipal Party Committee and mayor, introduced that the local government will continue to carry out activities such as dialogue between future leaders of China and Africa, exchange of think tank scholars, and non-vocational education and training, promote the construction of the "Silk Road College" of Jinhua Vocational and Technical College, strengthen cooperation and exchanges with African art troupes, and build a demonstration area for China-Africa cultural cooperation and exchange.
The 5th session of the China-Africa Think Tank Forum consists of an opening ceremony, two plenary sessions, four parallel sub-forums and a closing ceremony. On May 31, more than 60 Chinese and African scholars, media and business representatives will discuss the history, results and experience of China-Africa cooperation on four topics: "The Centennial History of China-Africa Unity and Rejuvenation: Review and Prospect", "The Concept of True Affinity and Sincerity and the Correct View of Righteousness and Benefit to Open a New Era of China-Africa Cooperation", "China-Africa Relations under the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative", and "Toward Common Prosperity: Africa's Vision 2063 and China's Modernization". (End)