Co-hosted by Renmin University of China and China Public Diplomacy Association, and organized by Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies (RDCY)and Global Governance Research Center (GGRC) at Renmin University of China, a symposium on “Common Future of China-Africa’s Mutual Assistance and Destiny of Mankind” and Release of Series of Research Results was held in Renmin University of China on August 20th, 2018.

A number of experts and scholars from government departments, foreign embassies and research institutes were invited to attend the symposium, and had an in-depth discussion on the topics such as friendly cooperation between China and African countries at the new situation, cooperating to meet the challenges of economic globalization, and striving for common development in the future, giving suggestions for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) to be held in early September.More than 200 Chinese and foreign guests attended the event, which played a positive role in enhancing understanding between China and Africa, promoting exchanges and cooperation, and building a community of shared future between China and Africa.

The opening ceremony of was Chaired by Wang Wen, Executive Dean RDCY. Wang Liming, executive vice president of Renmin University of China, and Hu Zhengyue, vice president of the China Public Diplomacy Association, delivered speeches.

vice president of RUC Wang Liming

In his speech, vice president Wang Liming said that the FOCAC, which  has gone through 18 years of development, has become the best platform for practicing the community of shared future for mankind and has created a model for South-South cooperation. The practice of friendly cooperation between China and Africa has provided a new key for developing countries to solve their own problems, to explore new paths for equal cooperation and mutual benefit, and to seek new ideas for the fundamental solution of current world problems.

Hu Zhengyue, vice president of the China Public Diplomacy Association

Hu Zhengyue pointed out in his speech that China and Africa are good brothers and good friends naturally. In recent years, with the promotion of the leaders of both sides, China-Africa relations have been upgraded in all aspects. In 2017, China-Africa trade volume has reached more than 170 billion US dollars. Against the background of China's vigorous promotion of the "Belt and Road", more than 3,000 Chinese-funded enterprises are active in African countries, contributing to the promotion of mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Africa and the promotion of local development. At the same time, China-Africa public diplomacy is booming, humanities exchanges are rising, and bilateral people are intimately bonding.

Wei Jianguo, former vice minister of Commerce

During the keynote speeches, Wei Jianguo, former vice minister of Commerce, vice chairman of the China Center for International Economic Exchanges, started from current Sino-US trade frictions and analyzed the great potential and strategic value of China-Africa trade cooperation. He mentioned that China has 17 industrial parks in Africa currently. In the next five years, China's processing industry in Africa will make great strides toward high-tech fields. Especially in the agricultural sector, he said China-Africa cooperation can not only enable African food to be self-sufficient, but also to export to help local people get rid of poverty.

He yafei, former vice minister of Foreign Affairs and senior fellow of RDCY

He yafei, former vice minister of Foreign Affairs and senior fellow of RDCY, recalled his diplomatic career and relations with Africa. He said that China-Africa cooperation is a model for South-South cooperation. He believes that the balance of the world economy depends on the developing countries, especially African countries. China-Africa cooperation has provided an effective way for African countries to involve in globalization process and help them find a model suitable for their own development. The joint efforts of China and Africa not only contribute to the world's sustainable peace, but also promote a more equitable reform in the world order.

Ahcene Boukhelfa, Algeria's ambassador to China

Ahcene Boukhelfa, Algeria's ambassador to China,, recalled the history of China-Algeria exchanges and pointed out that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between two countries, the two sides have achieved all-round cooperation in the fields of politics, economy and trade. He appreciated China for its long-term contribution in the aid to Africa and believed that China-Africa cooperation has a global significance.

Jin Xin, dean of China Center for Contemporary World Studies

Jin Xin, dean of China Center for Contemporary World Studies of International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and secretary general of Silk Road Think Tank Association, said that China and Africa have great potential and prospects for cooperation in the areas of infrastructure connectivity and international Productivity cooperation. He suggested that China-Africa should strengthen exchanges and sharing in the management of agricultural industrialization and industrial park,as well as the people to people exchange and national and governance.

Ma Jun, director of the Green Finance Committee of the China Finance Association

Ma Jun, director of the Green Finance Committee of the China Finance Association and director of the Center for Finance and Development Studies of Tsinghua University,said that China-Africa cooperation in the green finance is not only conducive for sustainable development of both sides, but also able to make great contributions to global major issues such as environmental protection and prevention of global warming.

A series of three research results was released at the event.Hu Haibin, assistant to the dean and chief editor of Information Center of RDCY, moderated the release ceremony.

Cheng Cheng, associate researcher of RDCY

Cheng Cheng, associate researcher of RDCY,released the research report Building a Bridge to Shared Development: Prospective Assessment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on behalf of the RDCY research group and his monograph "Blood Cell" Finance and China Africa Development Cooperation，presenting the Beijing Summit of the FOCAC.

RDCY Research Group mentioned that the FOCAC has been on the right track and achieved fruitful results over the past 18 years.In the face of both opportunities and challenges, how to adjust FOCAC itself to the new situation and provide new impetus for China-Africa cooperation is a  realistic issue of great historical significance.

Creative team of TV series “Overseas Security Officer”

In order to further promote the cultural exchange between China and Africa, The first Chinese and African destiny TV series“Overseas Security Officer” were published by Leon Lai, a famous Chinese actor. He Yafei, consultant of the series, as well as the creative team, exchanged their views on promoting the people to people exchange between China and Africa.

At the plenary session chaired by Yang Qingqing, director of the Research Cooperation Department of RDCY, several Chinese and international experts had a in-depth discussion focusing on the theme of The 40th Anniversary of Reform and Opening-up, Common Future of China-Africa’s  Mutual Assistance and Destiny of Mankind, and had a warm interaction with the audience.

Plenary session

Liu Hongwu, Dean of the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University, Lin Hengyu, chairman of Belt and Road Initiative Investment Fund, Xu Weizhong, dean of Institute of African Studies at China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations,He Wenping, researcher of Institute of West-Asian and African Studies at Chinese Academy of Social Science, and Nasreldin Abdalla M.A., First Secretary of Sudan Embassy in China, attended the discussion.