African journalists learn of CPPCC efforts to promote China-Africa relations

A group of African journalists visited the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) National Committee on Sept 21, 2022, which marked the 73rd anniversary of the establishment of the CPPCC.

Fifteen journalists from 13 African countries attended an exhibition on the history of the CPPCC and exchanged ideas at a seminar with members of the CPPCC National Committee on the committee's work regarding proposals and the performance of its China-Africa Friendship Group as well as its efforts to promote China-Africa friendly exchanges.

Zhang Maoyu, deputy secretary general of the CPPCC National Committee, chaired the seminar, saying that China is the world's largest developing country and Africa is home to the most developing countries among all continents and that China-Africa cooperation has been a key foundation of China's foreign policy.

He stressed that carrying out extensive international exchanges is a major task of the CPPCC and that boosting China-Africa relations has been prioritized by the CPPCC. So far, the CPPCC has held exchanges in various forms with the national parliaments and political organizations of the majority of African countries, including the countries of the journalists in attendance.

Zhang said that the CPPCC is willing to continuously strengthen communication and exchanges with African countries, support the implementation of the outcomes made at the eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and contribute to building a closer community with a shared future for China and Africa.

Zhou Shuchun, a member of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and the China-Africa Friendship Group of the CPPCC National Committee, gave a brief introduction to the group and its performance since its establishment.

The group was launched in June 2019 as the first foreign friendly group of the CPPCC National Committee, aiming to deepen friendly exchanges between China and Africa. It is a platform for communication between the CPPCC and African countries and organizations, Zhou said.

Zhou pointed out that the group has been devoted to promoting friendly communication and exchanges between China and Africa, sharing governance experience, increasing mutual understanding and contributing to building a closer community with a shared future for the two sides.

He also stressed that the group will continue to maintain communication and exchanges with its African friends, and will launch more exchange and cooperation activities in various forms to promote China-Africa ties.

Issues on promoting the Global Development Initiative (GDI) were also highlighted at the seminar.

Zhang Yuyan, a member of the Committee on Foreign Affairs of the CPPCC National Committee, said that the GDI and the African Union's Agenda 2063 share many common concerns, adding that the opportunities brought by the initiative should be promoted to African governments and people.

He said that Africa is an important partner of China, a main participant in the Belt and Road Initiative and a key destination for China's investments and exports. Meanwhile, China is also a critical strategic partner and a major source of financial aid for Africa as well as an important participant in the AU's Agenda 2063.

2022 is the first year to implement the outcomes made at the eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, Zhang Yuyan said. The amount of China's imports from Africa experienced a year-on-year growth of nearly 20 percent between January and May this year, demonstrating the vigor of China-Africa cooperation, he said.

Zhang Yuyan added that in a world full of uncertainty, China and Africa should lift bilateral relations to a higher level and inject new vitality into strengthening cooperation.

At the seminar, African journalists also shared their experiences and views on projects on China-Africa cooperation, as well as on cultural and educational exchanges between the two sides.