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52 countries including Rwanda represented at 8th China-Africa Youth Festival

By Théophile Niyitegeka
On 20 May 2024 at 03:30

Youths from 52 African countries, including Rwanda, are participating in the 8th China-Africa Youth Festival. The week-long event, which began on May 20, 2024, in Beijing, includes visits to various locations in China such as manufacturing facilities, Hengdian World Studios, and the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University. Additionally, multiple workshops have been designed to allow participants to experience traditional Chinese culture.

The opening ceremony took place at the Soong Ching Ling Youth Science and Culture Centre. Notable attendees included 32 African envoys accredited to China, Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Xiaodong, and Vice-Chairwoman of the 13th Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and President of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, Ms. Li Bin.

In his speech, Chen Xiaodong praised the success of previous editions of the festival under the framework of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum (FOCAC). He emphasized that the festival provides a platform for Chinese and African youth to forge friendships and discuss the future, playing a key role in promoting cultural exchanges and people-to-people friendships.

This year’s theme, "Gathering Youth Power, Building Modern Sino-Africa Together," aims to inspire and encourage young people from both Africa and China to collaborate in their modernization efforts. “We look forward to fostering friendships, enhancing unity, and contributing to a bright future for our relations,” said Xiaodong.

Xiaodong also echoed President Xi Jinping’s vision of building a community with a shared future between China and Africa. He also highlighted the historical cooperation between China and Africa, extolling the youth’s contributions to significant projects like the Nairobi-Mombasa railway and the Addis Ababa-Djibouti railway under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Senegal’s Ambassador to China and Co-Chairman of FOCAC, Ibrahima Sorry Sylla, emphasized the festival’s importance in fostering sincere friendship and pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa. He recalled the Dakar Action Plan 2021, where Chinese and African leaders prioritized youth as a key driver of the Sino-African partnership. The plan encourages exchanges and cooperation in youth-related fields.

Amb. Ibrahima also highlighted Africa’s challenges regarding training, youth employability, and socio-economic integration.

With Africa having the world’s youngest population, over 400 million young people are aged between 15 and 35.

"Such a young population necessitates increased investments in economic and social development factors to improve the development index of African countries," the envoy noted.

Amb. Ibrahima appealed to universities, schools, training institutes, think tanks, businesses, and all stakeholders to join efforts in tackling these challenges for a stronger Sino-African partnership.

Among others; Ms. Li Bin expressed hope that this year’s event would inject new and powerful youthful energy into enhancing mutual understanding, promoting China-Africa friendship, and jointly building modern Sino-Africa relations.

Dany Vassyli Mugisha, a Rwandan participant in his final year at Rwanda Institute for Conservation Agriculture (RICA), expressed his delight in representing Rwandan youth at the festival. He believes the event is an excellent opportunity to strengthen China-Africa relations, network with peers from China and other African countries, and showcase Rwanda’s beauty.

“I hope to learn from the conferences and visits and share this knowledge with my peers back home. This platform allows me to raise Rwanda’s flag high, showcase our rich culture, and invite my fellow delegates to visit Rwanda,” he noted.

The festival is organized by the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Zhejiang provincial government.

Chinese Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs Chen Xiaodong emphasized that the festival provides a platform for Chinese and African youth to forge friendships and discuss the future.
Senegal’s Ambassador to China and Co-Chairman of FOCAC, Ibrahima Sorry Sylla, emphasized the festival's importance in fostering sincere friendship and pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa.
Dany Vassyli Mugisha experiencing Chinese traditional culture on the first day of the festival.
The opening ceremony took place at the Soong Ching Ling Youth Science and Culture Centre.
Young representatives from African countries experiencing traditional Chinese culture.
Dany Vassyli Mugisha experiencing Chinese traditional culture on the first day of the festival.
Multiple workshops have been designed to allow participants to experience traditional Chinese culture.

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