Forum calls for deepened China-Africa cooperation

The 2022 China (Zhejiang) Forum on China-Africa Economic and Trade Relations and China-Africa Cultural Cooperation and Exchange Week kicked off in Jinhua, Zhejiang province on Monday, with a call for further cooperation between China and Africa.

Some 400 participants from China, Africa and international organizations, including experts and scholars of African research, representatives of business associations and international students, were in attendance at the opening ceremony.

In the recent past, landmark achievements outline a new road map to build a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era and a distinctive road of win-win cooperation, said Gao Yunlong, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference.

"China and Zimbabwe are long-term friends. Our cooperation and exchanges date back to the late 1960s, which is even earlier than the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1980," Emmerson Mnangagwa, president of Zimbabwe, said in his address via video link.

"A number of mega projects such as the expansion of Harare Robert Mugabe International Airport, construction of a new parliament building, network expansion for Zimbabwe state-owned mobile firm NetOne, refurbishment of Harare's water treatment plant and construction of a pharmaceutical warehouse not only created a large number of jobs, but also contributed to the development of Zimbabwe," he added.

Mnangagwa also underlined the necessity for both Zhejiang province and Zimbabwe to promote economic and cultural exchanges, saying "Zimbabwe keeps close ties with most regions in China, among which Zhejiang has one of the most vigorous economies."

Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said there is a need to advocate deep exchanges and cooperation between Tanzania and China as previous cooperation has yielded fruitful results over the past six decades of the two countries' friendship, from the Tazara Railway to more recent projects such as the upgrade of the Dares Salaam Port expansion and the construction of the Ubungo Flyover.

Gao expressed hope Zhejiang province will take this event as an opportunity to deepen cooperation with Africa in all aspects, carry out in-depth and comprehensive exchanges in society, economy and trade and make positive contributions.

In the upcoming week, a slew of events on topics will be held, including symposiums, forums, cultural exchange activities and exhibitions on topics ranging from offshore taxation and industrial cooperation to cross-border e-commerce and vocational education.

Fang Xiaoying in Jinhua contributed to this story.