Gao Yunlong addresses the opening ceremony

　　

On the morning of November 8, the opening ceremony of the 2023 China (Zhejiang) Forum on China-Africa Economic and Trade Relations and China-Africa Cultural Cooperation and Exchange Month was held in Jinhua City, Zhejiang Province. Gao Yunlong, chairman of All-China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC), delivered a speech and announced the opening.

　　

　　

　　

Gao Yunlong pointed out that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative as well as the 10th real results, amity and good faith, and pursuing the greater good and shared interests. Over the past 10 years, the practical cooperation between China and Africa has yielded fruitful results, such as the 10 major cooperation plans, the eight major initiatives and the nine programs. To further strengthen cooperation with all walks of life in Africa, Gao put forward three hopes. First of all, we should further promote people-to-people and cultural exchanges, strengthen the bond of friendship between China and Africa, continue to deepen cooperation in various fields, and carry out people-to-people and cultural exchanges and livelihood projects in various forms, so as to provide impetus for the steady and long-term development of China-Africa cooperation. Second, we need to further deepen economic and trade cooperation to cement the foundation of China-Africa cooperation. We should make full use of the respective strengths of China and Africa, leverage the role of industrial innovation in supporting trade, build a community of shared interests with African companies, and help Africa’s industrialization and economic diversification. Third, we are hoped to step up cooperation in the social field and strengthen exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa. We should actively participate in exchanges and cooperation of China-Africa social programs, fulfil our responsibilities, benefit the Chinese and African people, and contribute to Africa’s integration and modernization. The ACFIC will build more platforms for private enterprises to invest in Africa, and continue to promote high-standard, beneficial and sustainable China-Africa non-governmental investment cooperation by integrating various forces and pooling resources.

　　

Abdoulkader Kamil Mohamed, Prime Minister of Djibouti, delivered a speech via video link. Lu Shan, vice governor of Zhejiang Province, Li Xikui, vice president of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC), and Zhang Shenfeng, vice chairman of China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), delivered speeches respectively. Qiu Xiaoping, vice chairman of ACFIC, attended the opening ceremony.

　　

This event was co-organized by the CPAFFC, the CCPIT, the ACFIC and the People’s Government of Zhejiang Province. More than 400 people attended the opening ceremony, including officials from African embassies and consulates in China, representatives of African business associations and entrepreneurs, representatives of key African-related enterprises in China, experts and scholars, and representatives of African-related intermediary service agencies.