New journey of China-Africa cooperation on modernization discussed during seminar held at Beijing Normal University

Photo shows a seminar held for African alumni of the Belt and Road School at Beijing Normal University, Sept. 18, 2024. (Photo provided by the Belt and Road School at Beijing Normal University)

Themed "China-Africa cooperation: jointly advance modernization", a seminar was held in Beijing on Wednesday for African alumni of the Belt and Road School at Beijing Normal University (BNU).

Held both online and offline, the event gathered nearly 100 government officials, experts and scholars from China and 22 African countries such as South Africa, Ethiopia, Nigeria, Kenya and Rwanda.

Participants believed that under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the Belt and Road Initiative, China and Africa are joining hands toward a new journey of modernization, which will promote the building of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, leading to a brighter future for China-Africa cooperation.

Belt and Road cooperation between China and Africa is of great potential and broad prospects, said Xu Jianping, an official with China's National Development and Reform Commission. For next steps, China will continue to work with African countries and the African Union to fully implement the ten partnership actions for modernization to deepen China-Africa cooperation, by promoting practical Belt and Road cooperation and strengthening strategic synergy, connectivity, cooperation and coordination, Xu noted.

Photo shows Xu Jianping, an official with China's National Development and Reform Commission, giving a speech at a seminar held for African alumni of the Belt and Road School at Beijing Normal University, Sept. 18, 2024. (Photo provided by the Belt and Road School at Beijing Normal University)

At the recently-concluded 2024 Summit of FOCAC, China announced ten partnership actions for modernization to deepen China-Africa cooperation, which laid out the implementation path for the next three years, depicted a new vision for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and opened a new chapter in China-Africa cooperation.

Emphasizing the significant role of education in promoting modernization of China and Africa, Kang Zhen, vice president of BNU, pointed out that the Belt and Road School at BNU has played an active role in cultivating high-level international talents and promoting practical cooperation between China and Africa.

Over the past ten years, the school has admitted a total of 658 outstanding talents from 93 countries, which is important for strengthening the connectivity among Belt and Road partner countries and deepening the cooperation and mutual trust between China and Africa, said Kang.

Photo shows Kang Zhen, vice president of Beijing Normal University, giving a speech at a seminar held for African alumni of the Belt and Road School at Beijing Normal University, Sept. 18, 2024. (Photo provided by the Belt and Road School at Beijing Normal University)

China Economic Information Service (CEIS) has been committed to promoting China-Africa economic information exchange and resource sharing, said Yang Mu, vice president of CEIS, noting that such efforts not only meet the needs of Africa's modernization, but also make connections among Chinese and African governments, enterprises and think tanks, promoting communication, exchanges and cooperation between the two sides.

Photo shows Yang Mu, vice president of China Economic Information Service, giving a speech at a seminar held for African alumni of the Belt and Road School at Beijing Normal University, Sept. 18, 2024. (Photo provided by the Belt and Road School at Beijing Normal University)

A total of 377 African students from 32 countries have enrolled in the Belt and Road School at BNU, introduced Liu Qian, vice dean of the school. At Wednesday's seminar, more than ten African students and alumni of the school discussed the latest achievements and development directions of China-Africa cooperation from a variety of perspectives including economy and trade, agriculture, innovation, green development, medical care, education and humanities, putting forward valuable suggestions on China-Africa cooperation toward modernization.