Global hunger levels are at their highest in decades. Statistics show that the combined magnitude, severity, and geographic scope of anticipated emergency food assistance needs will be unprecedented in 2017. Seventy million people, across 45 countries, will require emergency food assistance. Four countries – Nigeria, Somalia, South Sudan, and Yemen – face a credible risk of famine.

How widespread is famine in Africa these days? Can the continent manage on its own? And how should the international community react to help avert a disaster? He Wenping, research fellow from the Institute of West Asian and African Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Science spoke to CGTN about these issues.

In response to Africa's needs, China has financed the building of more than 5,000 kilometers of railways and trained more than 160,000 personnel in Africa. At the G20 Summit last September in Hangzhou, China put a sustainable development plan on the agenda, to provide support for the industrialization of African countries including the least developed ones. Join CGTN to find out more about what China has done to help the continent.