From May 20 to 22, 64 African youths from 52 African countries of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation participated in the 8th China-Africa Youth Festival. They engaged in a series of exchange activities, visiting exhibition halls, universities, and relevant institutions to learn about China's political, economic developments, and experience traditional Chinese culture. Through these visits and exchanges, African youth forged deep friendships with their Chinese counterparts and gained a better understanding of China's modernization process.
At the China Soong Ching Ling Youth Science and Culture Exchange Center, African youth, alongside their Chinese peers, experienced various traditional Chinese cultural projects including tea art, printing and dyeing, pottery, and weaving. The exquisite works they collaborated on together carried the imprint of Chinese culture, filled with friendship and memories.
Visiting the former residence of Soong Ching Ling, the African youth explored exhibitions on Soong Ching Ling's life, her preserved living space, and the courtyard, learning about her great spirit and experiencing the charm of traditional Chinese architecture and gardens. Many of the African participants expressed admiration for this remarkable female figure in Chinese history, with Motoko from Botswana stating, "Madam Soong Ching Ling's story shows me the strength of Chinese women. I believe many women will take her as a role model and contribute to the development of their own countries."
At the welcome banquet, Secretary-General Zhang Jiming of the Foundation and Zhao Xiyuan, a counselor at the African Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, delivered enthusiastic speeches. The attendees enjoyed splendid performances of Peking Opera, percussion music, and Chinese dance, with cheers and applause filling the venue. The African youth dressed in ethnic costumes and, to lively background music, took to the stage to dance African traditional dances, with Chinese volunteers joining in, creating a joyous atmosphere enjoyed by the audience.
The African youth enthusiastically climbed the Great Wall, placing prepared messages into activity mailboxes to send back home what they saw and experienced in China. Upon reaching the summit, they shouted "Hello, China!" expressing their excitement. Isabelle from Cape Verde remarked, "Climbing the Great Wall was a fantastic experience. Despite some physical challenges, it was well worth it."
At the South-South Institute of Peking University, African youth engaged in discussions with African students studying in China and attended a lecture by Professor Fu Jun on China's economic growth and calculus models, sparking lively interactions.
At the Great Hall of the National People's Congress, the China-Africa Friendship Group of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference held in-depth discussions with the African youth. Group members provided detailed information on the work of the CPPCC, as well as the situation of China-Africa agriculture, poverty reduction cooperation, and women and youth exchanges, sharing vivid stories of China-Africa exchanges and cooperation. Hamda from Ethiopia stated in her speech, "China supports various aspects of Africa's economic and social development. We look forward to more cooperation achievements at this year's upcoming Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit, allowing African youth to participate more in their country's development, working together with Chinese youth to address complex challenges and leave valuable legacies for future generations."
The final stop of the youth festival was a visit to the China Communist Party History Exhibition Hall. Guided by professionals, the youth paused at precious artifacts and images, gaining a comprehensive understanding of the Communist Party's century-long journey. The African youth expressed awe at the grand scale and numerous exhibits of the exhibition hall, marveling at the historical achievements of the Communist Party of China. The remarkable achievements of the Communist Party of China in modernization have provided important insights for African development, offering strong encouragement for African countries in overcoming developmental challenges. The youth also watched a panoramic movie on the Long March, marveling at the hardships and heroism of the Red Army soldiers and China's advanced film technology.
After their three-day visit to Beijing, the African youths boarded a high-speed train to continue their exciting journey in Jinhua, Zhejiang province.
(Source: Department of International Cooperation and Exchange, CSCLF)
