At the invitation of the Chinese Association for International Understanding, a 12-member African friendly people delegation visited China from March 21 to 30. The delegation was headed by Puso Gaborone, Chairman of the House of Chiefs of Botswana and composed of NGO leaders, traditional leaders, university presidents and media professionals from Botswana, Kenya and Tanzania. The delegation members visited Beijing and Zhejiang, meeting and discussing with government officials, NGO leaders, scholars and ordinary people of China, which allowed them to observe comprehensively the status quo and development of the politics, economy and culture of China, thus enhancing the understanding of African people on China and the Chinese people as well as boosting the friendship between the peoples of Africa and China.

 

          Learning about the Development Experience of China

 

Before the delegation’s arrival in China, the annual plenary sessions of the National People’s Congress (NPC) and the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) had just been concluded. Some members of the delegation knew well that these two meetings were important events in China and have direct impact on a series of major political and economic decisions, and they were especially interested in the Thirteenth Five-Year Plan for National Economic and Social Development of the People’s Republic of China approved by the fourth session of the 12th National People’s Congress. Qi Xuchun, Vice-Chairman of the CPPCC National Committee and Vice-President of CAFIU met with the delegation and briefed on the development concepts of innovation, collaboration, green, open and sharing proposed in the 13th Five-Year Plan. Qi pointed that, the 13th Five-Year Plan period was a critical period for completing the process of building a moderately well-off society in all aspects, and under the guidance of the 13th Five-Year Plan, China will make greater achievements and create more opportunities for the rest of the world. Chen Yanhua, Vice-Chairperson of Zhejiang Provincial Committee of CPPCC introduced to the delegation the tentative idea of Zhejiang Province in carrying out the 13th Five-Year Plan and emphasized that during the 13th Five-Year-Plan period, China and Africa should strengthen cooperation and seek common development.

 

Puso Gaborone said that China has scored remarkable achievements, due to its adherence to the development path suitable for its national condition, sticking to the human-centered principle and allowing all people share the achievements of development. As African countries were striving to develop their national economy, they need desperately to learn from the experience and practice of China and find their own appropriate development paths. Joseph Kahama, Secretary-General of Tanzania-China Friendship Promotion Association said that, in the view of Tanzania, China was one of the best friends and a role model. Currently, as China has entered the 13th Five-Year Plan period, China’s practice of making plans of social and economic development and ensure their completion is worth learning for African countries.

 

             Strengthening China-African Practical Cooperation

 

The Johannesburg Summit of the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation convened in December 2015 upgraded the positioning of China-Africa relations from China-Africa new-type strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, prefiguring the leapfrog development in terms of friendly and mutually-beneficial cooperation between Africa and China. During their visit in China, China-Africa relations have therefore become a focal point of the members of the delegation. In Beijing, experts from Institute of Africa, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations and International Poverty Reduction Center in China made thematic presentations on issues such as China-Africa relations and China-Africa cooperation in the new era, development-oriented poverty relief in China, cooperation in terms of poverty alleviation between China and Africa. The delegation members listened to these lectures with abundant interest, made careful notes upon them, vied in raising questions in the Q & A session, revealing their great expectations for strengthening China-Africa cooperation. In Yiwu, Zhejiang Province, the delegation visited the Yiwu International Trade City and gained a first-hand understanding on China-Africa trade and cooperation. When these African friends entered the exhibition center of African products of the Trade City, they were excited to see products from their hometown being sold in China and vied to taking pictures.

Puso Gaborone said that cooperation between China and Africa in various sectors is being carried out in full swing and the development of Africa has been closely connected with China. Both belonged to the developing world, China and Africa are facing same challenges and boast extensive common interests. China and Africa should strengthen pragmatic cooperation in fields such as medical service and public health, education, poverty reduction and environmental protection. Faith Nguru, Deputy Chancellor of Riara University of Kenya pointed out that with the assistance of China, the infrastructure development of Kenya has advanced stably in recent years. The cooperation between China and Africa in terms of infrastructure development is expected to be further strengthened and the China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership is expected to achieve further development.

 

                                  Enhance People-to-People Exchange

 

For their better understanding of Chinese traditional culutre, we arranged for the delegation in their agenda in Beijing and Zhejiang some activities of learning about Chinese culture. In Beijing, the delegation visited the Capital Museum, learned about the job done by Beijing in inheriting and carrying forward Chinese traditional culture, as well as the historical process of Beijing in upgrading to a national capital and cultural center from a municipality integrating diversified nationalities and culutres. In Jinhua of Zhejiang Province, the delegation visited Suoyuan village for intercultural exchange and tourism, where local residents showed them on spot the techniques of making bean curd and rice-cake. Under the guidance of local residents, Puso Gaborone and other members of the delegation tried to make bean curd. They felt excited to have the chance of experiencing Chinese culture.

 

Puso Gaborone pointed out that Chinese culture was extensive and profound, and learning about Chinese culture was very necessary for the delegation members to further understand China. He said that the African culture was different from the Chinese culture and he hopes to see more Chinese people learn about African culture and enhance their understanding about Africa. China and Africa are expected to strengthen people-to-people exchange and cultural exchange, especially in sectors such as education, tourism, media, think tanks, and youth, so as to promote the mutual understanding and friendship between people of both sides. Faith Nguru said, young people represent the future of their country and it is very important to boost the understanding between the youngsters of China and Africa. Riara University is willing to establish exchange partnership with Chinese universities so as to make its due contribution to enhance mutual understanding between the youngsters of China and Africa.