During the opening ceremony, Chinese Vice Premier Liu Guozhong stressed that China is willing to provide new opportunities for Africa in terms of its development and to join hands in promoting modernization.

He praised the excellent state of ties between the two sides and urged strengthening solidarity and cooperation amid the current chaotic international context.

Liu noted that local governments in China and Africa should treat each other as equals in pursuit of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.

He also advocated accelerating green transformation, while advocating inclusiveness, learning and people-to-people exchanges.

“China is ready to promote alignment between the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, the Global Civilization Initiative, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the development strategies of African countries,” he pointed out.

In recent years Beijing has strengthened its call for the Global South and a new global governance that gives developing nations a greater voice.

China is currently Africa’s largest trading partner and its relations cover market access, infrastructure, energy, strategic minerals, digital infrastructure, space, security and party-to-party exchanges.

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