Vision China event to boost Sino-African ties（2）

Vision China event to boost Sino-African ties   

The fourth event of Vision China is held in Beijing, Sept 6, 2018. [Photo by Zou Hong/chinadaily.com.cn]

Jin Liqun, the AIIB president, said the bank had a role to play in advancing China-Africa cooperation in years to come.

Noting that globalization is closely linked to human destiny, he said the AIIB, initiated by President Xi, has always adhered to the principles of openness, inclusiveness and cooperation. By investing in infrastructure and other productive sectors, he said the bank helps strengthen economic ties within Asia, as well as between Asia and other regions, including Africa, Europe and Latin America, and contributes to high-quality Belt and Road Initiative infrastructure projects.

The bank, established in 2016, attaches great importance to Africa's development. Its first investment project outside Asia was an Egyptian solar power project. Jin said other African countries were welcome to join the AIIB.

His said the bank will continue to support African members in improving infrastructure connectivity, and transforming and upgrading their economies through sustainable infrastructure investments, including through partnership with Belt and Road Initiative. Such joint efforts will help African countries achieve broad-based economic and social development, he added.

In David Gosset's speech, the international relations expert analyzed the complexities of the current global context in terms of demographic changes, technological disruptions, power diffusion, and geopolitical changes.

He linked the Chinese renaissance with the African renaissance, saying China and Africa are growing together. The two sides are working together to consolidate the sources of stability, enrich the whole world, and increase inconclusiveness.

In addition, Gosset said he sees a bright future for the development of China-Africa cooperation and the appearance of new forms of multilateralism.

Hodan Osman Abdi said there are both similarities and differences between China and Africa, but their relationship has historical significance.

Today, as China faces overcapacity and Africa faces the problem of underproduction, such complementary relations will further deepen cooperation, she said, adding that she believes that through joint construction of the China-Africa community with a shared future, the two sides will march toward an more interconnected and interdependent situation.

Zahra Baitie also talked about the China-Africa relationship by sharing her story. She said when she first came to China, a local couple were curious about the braids in her hair, but they felt embarrassed to talk with her. Now they have become intimate and often travel together.

She anticipated further developments in China-Africa cooperation in the new era. With eyes open wider, the two sides should make the most of the tourism market and expand the Chinese market for African-made products.

The level of cooperation can be also enhanced to achieve "co-creations" from project research, enterprise incubation, and so on, she said. More African institutions should be built in China to provide the country with services like financial technology innovation, cultural products and enterprise skills, Baitie added.

The fourth Vision China event was hosted by China Daily in cooperation with BAIC Group, Beijing Language and Culture University, and Snail Insurance.

Wei Gang, executive director of BAIC International Development Co, said President Xi's speech at the Beijing summit drew a new blueprint for development of the China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership. He said when going global, BAIC Group has always closely followed the pulse of China's diplomacy.

Vision China was established in January. By inviting world-class political, business and academic speakers to tell China's story from global perspectives and discuss major global topics, it aims to become a broad platform to ensure China's voice is better heard in the new era as well as to build a new channel for responding to global concerns on hot China-related issues through profound debate.

By revealing the global significance behind Chinese stories, Vision China strives to introduce Chinese solutions and Chinese wisdom as a source of a shared future for humanity.

On Sept 13, the fifth Vision China event, themed "40 Years On — China and the World", will be held in London.