Young leaders praise the BRI for improving African people's livelihoods

The Belt and Road Initiative has promoted African people's wellbeing and helped build a shared future for people from China and African countries, delegations told a forum Friday.

Faced with uncertainties, including global turbulence and a lack of development impetus with the aftermath of the pandemic, it is important for China and African countries to maintain high-quality collaboration under the BRI framework to further boost economic development and strengthen people-to-people ties, according to Didier Dacko, ambassador of Mali to China, in his opening remarks at the third China-Africa Future Leaders' Dialogue.

This year marks the tenth anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by China. Over the past decade, China has signed agreements with 52 African countries and the African Union Commission on the BRI cooperation.

According to China's General Administration of Customs, China-Africa trade has grown by 42 percent over the past 10 years to reach $282 billion in 2022, with China remaining as Africa's largest trading partner.

"With the BRI, the whole world now is connected, and global trade is facilitated. The urban landscapes of many African cities have been changed and hundreds of thousands of households have benefited during this process," said Leon Kossivi from Togo, assistant manager of Dakar BRT Project of China Road and Bridge Corporation.

This year is the 10th year Kossivi has worked in the Chinese company. "During the past 10 years, I have witnessed tremendous development opportunities that China-Africa cooperation and the BRI have brought to my country. And I have recognized the importance of building of a China-Africa community with a shared future," he said.

Since the launch of the BRI in 2013, China has dispatched about 9,000 medical personnel to African countries and provided more than 100,000 training opportunities with projects including the Luban Workshop.

At present, the Luban Workshops in Africa offer 27 majors that cover 11 categories. Students are trained and equipped with targeted skills which can mitigate the talent gap and boost development for their home countries.

"Both the present and the future belong to young people. The BRI brings a brighter future for young people in Africa and calls for the wisdom and energy of young generations. Therefore, African youths must be part of the BRI and make our own contributions," said Donglona Adawa Thomas from Chad, PhD student at School of the International Studies of Peking University.