Africa-China Young Leaders Forum to open

The second Africa-China Young Leaders Forum is scheduled for June 18 -20 in Beijing. Cao Baijuan, director of the Africa Department of the International?Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) held a news conference on June 12, 2012, chinadaily.com.cn reported.

Q: How is the second Africa-China Young Leaders Forum prepared?

A: The second Africa-China Young Leaders Forum is co-hosted by the CPC and Namibia's SWAPO Party. More than 300 delegates from China and 39 African countries are expected at the event. The theme is "Africa-China cooperation and development of youths." Top leaders from China and Namibia, Tanzania, Zambia and South Africa will attend the forum and deliver keynote speeches.

Last year, more than 200 delegates from 18 African countries and China attended the first forum. China's top legislator Wu Bangguo said the Africa-China Young Leaders Forum should follow and serve the overall interests of China-Africa relations.

Wu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, said that first the forum's work should be integrated into the overall framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), established under the joint initiative of China and African countries in 2000, a guiding function in Sino-African cooperation.

Second, he saw the Young Leaders Forum as a new yet important platform for China and Africa to increase exchanges among their youths. This forum also plays a significant role in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese and African people, he said.

Third, the Young Leaders Forum promotes China-Africa practical cooperation, an important task in advancing China-Africa ties, according to Wu. He told the youths present that they should take advantage of the forum as it brings together talented people, and offers suggestions and recommendations on enhancing China-Africa practical cooperation.

Q: What is the aim and main sections of the forum?

A: The aim is four-fold. First is to enhance mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese and African young people. Second is to increase information exchanges among youths and grow together. Third is to make the forum an important platform for China and Africa to communicate. Fourth is to pave the way for the upcoming Africa-China Cooperation Forum to be held in July in Beijing.

Main sections include: a series of lectures by African and Chinese experts on China-Africa relations; the opening ceremony; three plenary discussions; the closing ceremony.

Q: What is the background and meaning of the forum?

A: The Africa-China relation meets both opportunity and challenge with the development of the global situation. Increasing mutual trust, cooperation and friendship between Chinese and African people have paved the solid basis for deepening Africa-China relations. However, there are ungrounded and baseless rebukes to the Africa-China ties amid the diversified world.

Leaders from China and the African world have the responsibility to strengthen the ties and understanding between the young people. The Africa-China Young Leaders Forum is a necessary part of Africa- China Cooperation Forum.

Young talented people are the future of any country and nation. They are creative and full of life. They will become the backbone of Africa-China relations. Both Chinese and African young people should shoulder the responsibility and develop themselves in the trend.