China Daily hosts Vision China event to boost Sino-African ties
Baku, September 7, AZERTAC
China Daily held its fourth Vision China event, themed "China & Africa: Growing Together", in the auditorium of Beijing Language and Culture University, according to chinadaily.com.cn.
Four speakers, from China, Africa and Europe, shared their opinions on the recently concluded 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation as well as on how to deepen the China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership and build a closer China-Africa community with a shared future.
Jin Liqun, president of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank; David Gosset, founder of the Europe-China Forum; Hodan Osman Abdi, adviser to the president of Somalia and executive director of Zhejiang Normal University's Center for East African Studies; and Zahra Baitie, China director of Development Reimagined and founder of Beijing Africa Week, all gave insightful speeches based on their experiences and understanding of Sino-African relations.
Guo Weimin, vice-minister of the State Council Information Office; Zhou Shuchun, publisher and editor-in-chief of China Daily; Du Feijin, head of publicity department for the Beijing Committee of the Communist Party of China; Wei Gang, director of strategic planning at Beijing Automotive Industry Holding Co; and Ni Haidong, Party chief of Beijing Language and Culture University, also attended the event together in an audience of about 1000 people.
Jin Liqun, the AIIB president, said the bank had a role to play in advancing China-Africa cooperation in years to come.
Noting that globalization is closely linked to human destiny, he said the AIIB, initiated by President Xi, has always adhered to the principles of openness, inclusiveness and cooperation. By investing in infrastructure and other productive sectors, he said the bank helps strengthen economic ties within Asia, as well as between Asia and other regions, including Africa, Europe and Latin America, and contributes to high-quality Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects.
In David Gosset's speech, the international relations expert analyzed the complexities of the current global context in terms of demographic changes, technological disruptions, power diffusion, and geopolitical changes.
He linked the Chinese renaissance with the African renaissance, saying China and Africa are growing together. The two sides are working together to consolidate the sources of stability, enrich the whole world, and increase inconclusiveness.
Hodan Osman Abdi said there are both similarities and differences between China and Africa, but their relationship has historical significance.
Today, as China faces overcapacity and Africa faces the problem of underproduction, such complementary relations will further deepen cooperation, she said, adding that she believes that through joint construction of the China-Africa community with a shared future, the two sides will march toward an more interconnected and interdependent situation.
Zahra Baitie also talked about the China-Africa relationship by sharing her story. She said when she first came to China, a local couple were curious about the braids in her hair, but they felt embarrassed to talk with her. Now they have become intimate and often travel together.
On Sept 13, the fifth Vision China event, themed "40 Years On — China and the World", will be held in London.
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