General

One is the largest developing country, and the other is the continent with the largest concentration of developing countries. Similar historical encounters, common struggles, and common development tasks have closely linked China and Africa.

In recent years, the pragmatic cooperation under the FOCAC mechanism has yielded fruitful results. The railway, airport, port, hydropower station and other infrastructure projects undertaken by China are all over Africa, the China-Africa Joint Center for Modern Agricultural Technology Exchange Demonstration and Training, the "Green Channel" for African Agricultural Products to China, and the "Future Africa-China-Africa Vocational Education Cooperation Plan", etc. The project is progressing steadily. In the eyes of people from all walks of life in Africa, China will do what it says it will, and Africa-China practical cooperation in various fields has made new progress, making significant contributions to reducing poverty, improving industrialization and promoting economic development in African countries.

"The Belt and Road Initiative brings tangible benefits to African people"

Due to its proximity to Burkina Faso, Tamale, the capital of the northern province of Ghana, is an important commercial and trade hub, but the backward infrastructure restricts the city's development, making it inconvenient for people to travel, and limited business and trade transportation. In March of this year, an overpass constructed by a Chinese-funded company was completed, which greatly improved the traffic conditions in downtown Tamale.

Adam Abdul Rahman, chairman of the board of directors of the Africa-China International Relations Center, a think tank in Ghana, was full of praise for the overpass built in his hometown: "On the day the overpass was completed, people crowded under the bridge to take pictures, cheer and celebrate. It is the first overpass in the Northern Province, which not only improves local transportation and facilitates travel, but also beautifies the city skyline of Tamale.”

In recent years, under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and China-Africa cooperation, more China-Africa cooperation projects have taken root in Ghana, and Rahaman has a deeper understanding of the connotation of China-Africa cooperation. "The Belt and Road Initiative has brought tangible benefits to the African people," Rahaman said.

The Mombasa-Nairobi Railway, built by a Chinese company, celebrated its fifth anniversary just a few months ago. This standard gauge railway connects Mombasa, the largest port in East Africa, and Nairobi, the capital of Kenya, greatly shortening the travel time between the two places and reducing logistics and transportation costs.

"The Mombasa-Nairobi Railway has created efficiency and employment. Manufacturers, logistics companies and related practitioners have benefited a lot, playing a key role in promoting local economic development," said Philip Mayenga, general manager of Kenya Railways.

A survey report released by the Kenyan think tank "Trans-regional Economic Network" in July this year shows that in the past 15 years, China's road and bridge infrastructure cooperation projects in Africa are "truly and visibly" changing Africa's landscape, helping African countries to promote connectivity construction and development. Market integration.

"The 'Belt and Road' is based on cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win, and provides opportunities for Africa and China to cooperate in multiple fields. After practical tests, it has made great contributions to the development of Africa." Economist, University of Yaoundé II, Cameroon Ronnie Ngenkwe said.

"Africa can learn from China's experience in poverty reduction"

In the Great Mara area near Bangui, the capital of the Central African Republic, a 6-square-meter mushroom shed with four walls shaded by palm leaves is placed with two 2-meter-long and 1-meter-wide beds, dotted with each other. Dotted with dozens of clusters of oyster mushrooms that just sprout. The 40-year-old Fatima fiddled with the plump gray-white mushroom caps with her hands, her face hard to hide the joy of the harvest.

Fatima is one of the many beneficiaries of China's aid to Africa's Juncao technology project. "The mushrooms we eat locally are all wild, and no one knew the technology of artificial mushroom cultivation before. Now, we have a reputation, and our customers are not only locals, but also foreign, and the supply is already in short supply," she said.

Affected by years of war, the Central African Republic has a high unemployment rate and a large number of poor people. About half of the country's population is severely food insecure, according to the latest figures from the United Nations World Food Programme.

The Juncao technology was invented by Chinese scientist Lin Zhanxi, which refers to the use of Juncao to "replace wood with grass" to cultivate edible and medicinal fungi, produce Juncao fungus feed and manage ecology. In 2017, this "China Plan" was listed as a key promotion project of the China-United Nations Peace and Development Fund, and has taken root in more than 100 countries.

In recent years, a Chinese agricultural expert team has successfully implemented the hybrid rice poverty reduction demonstration village project in Linge 4 Village, Jihangjia County, Bubanza Province, Burundi, helping the residents of the whole village to get rid of absolute poverty. "The footprints of Chinese experts are all over the country, and relying on the China-aided Agricultural Technology Demonstration Center to carry out breeding experiments of hybrid rice, corn and other improved varieties, which can effectively increase the yield of crops in Burundi and promote the export of agricultural products." Burundi Minister of Environment, Agriculture and Animal Husbandry Rurema Say.

Humphrey Mosey, director of the Center for China Studies at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania, said: "China has successfully lifted hundreds of millions of people out of absolute poverty, and Africa can learn from China's experience in poverty reduction. China is helping through mechanisms such as the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. Africa has increased agricultural productivity, accelerated its industrialization, and lifted more Africans out of poverty."

"Thanks to China for giving us much-needed hands-on training"

"Crack, woo woo", with the demonstration of the operation of the Chinese teacher, a brand-new device began to operate. In Djibouti, Egypt, Ethiopia, Madagascar... A Luban workshop was established and put into operation during the lively ribbon-cutting ceremony. African students said after the visit: "This is the best training class!"

For a long time, African vocational education has lacked funds, and both software and hardware have great room for improvement. Luban Workshop adopts the method of combining academic education and vocational training, adheres to the spirit of "teaching a man to fish", vigorously promotes the development of vocational education in Africa, cultivates high-quality technical and skilled talents for Africa to meet the urgent needs of economic and social development, and effectively promotes the independence of Africa. Innovation ability and independent development ability.

"We are very happy to be able to study here, because this is the only modern workshop in our country. Thanks to the valuable support from China, we can get much-needed practical training." Addis Ababa University of Science and Technology, Ethiopia, major in mechanical and electrical engineering student Habu Muta Desalani said.

In June this year, the "2022 African Youth Survey" commissioned by the Ichkowitz Family Foundation of South Africa was released. The report pointed out that by 2030, about 40% of the world's youth population will come from Africa, and youth will become an important force in promoting peace, stability and social development in Africa. China has always strongly supported the development of education in Africa, aided in the construction of schools in many countries and shared teaching experience, and actively promoted cooperation and exchanges between Chinese and African scientific research and teaching institutions.

In the same month, Tanzania launched a national occupational standard development project involving China, and 43 Chinese vocational colleges participated in the formulation of occupational standards and supporting talent training programs for 54 jobs in Tanzania. "The National Vocational Standards Development Project will lay the foundation for the establishment of new educational standards and promote the development of vocational education and training in Tanzania. At the same time, the project will help to cultivate a large number of high-quality skilled workers and ensure that vocational education graduates meet the needs of the international market." Adolf Rutayug, chairman of the Tanzania National Vocational Education Commission, said.

"China has given Africa a lot of support in talent training and capacity building, effectively helping African countries to develop," said Kagwanga, director of the Kenya African Policy Institute.