China-Africa Cooperation: New driving forces for sustainable development cooperation needed

World
Europe

02:39

The 3rd China-Africa Local Government Cooperation Forum kicked off on Tuesday in Beijing. As one of the events scheduled within the framework of China-Africa Cooperation Forum, this year's meeting is scheduled to discuss on finding new driving forces for sustainable development cooperation. Tang Bo has more.

Over 400 guests from China and Africa, all in search for better cooperation in sustainable development. Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan delivered an opening speech for the forum. He stressed that holding the meeting was in line with the expectations of China and Africa to strengthen exchanges and cooperation.

WANG QISHAN CHINESE VICE PRESIDENT "Economic globalization and building the community of shared future have become inevitable historical trends. China's development cannot be isolated from the world, and vice versa."

The Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation has become a major platform for promoting practical cooperation from the local government level since its establishment in 2012. In the past three years, over 150,000 various types of African technicians were trained by China. China also offered government scholarships for more than 20,000 African students.

WANG QISHAN CHINESE VICE PRESIDENT "Local governments are in charge of local affairs. They are the major forces of combating poverty and realizing sustainable development. Local governments from China and Africa should share their governing experiences and learn from each other."

That was echoed by some African participants.

PHILIPPE CAMILLE AKOA, GENERAL MANAGER FEICOM CAMEROUN "China's development mode is a good one which started from great industrialization and now it stresses highly on sustainable development."

FELIX MANG'WATO, DEPUTY PERMANENT SECRETARY CENTRAL PROVINCE, ZAMBIA "We must come up with our own development mode to have a sustainable development."

TANG BO BEIJING "The forum on China-Africa local government cooperation aims to integrate China's experience in poverty alleviation with Africa's local development. Under the frame work of China-Africa Cooperation Forum, the meetings are expected to provide China and Africa with new driving forces for their sustainable development."