BEIJING, Oct. 25. (232News) – Sierra Leone joined 44 African countries to participate in the 6th China-Africa Youth Festival in Beijing, China to deepen exchanges.
The 6th China-Africa Youth Festival hosted by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and organized by China Soong Ching Ling Foundation was launched in Beijing with the theme “Revisit the CPC’s Centennial Glorious Path, Pool the Youth’s Wisdom and Responsibility Together, and Add a New Chapter to China-Africa Common Development,”provides youth from 45 African youth representative from 44 African countries with a chance to exchange ideas and enhance mutual understanding.
President of China Soong Ching Ling Foundation Wang Jiarui, China’s Assistant Foreign Minister Deng Li, and Nigerian Ambassador to China Baba Ahmed Jeddah, attended the opening ceremony by video and delivered speeches.
During the five-day festival, African youth representatives currently studying or working in Beijing participate in a series of exchange activities such as roundtable talks, cultural activities, exhibition visits , a training site for Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Chinese tech giant Huawei.
This year marks the centenary of the founding of the Communist Party of China (CPC), said Wang Jiarui, chairman of China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF), during the opening ceremony, adding that he hopes through visits, dialogues and sharing, the African youth delegates will gain a deeper understanding of China, the CPC and the Chinese people.
Deng Li, assistant foreign minister, said that inspired by the theme of “reflecting on the 100-year history of the CPC, pooling wisdom from the youth and creating a new chapter for China-Africa common development,” the event encourages young people from China and Africa to learn from history and seize the opportunity to advance China-Africa relations in the new era.
Deng revealed that a new session dubbed the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will be held in Senegal at the end of this year, noting that China and Africa will collaborate on new initiatives and provide more platforms for Chinese and African youths to display their talents.
Nigerian Ambassador to China Baba Ahmad Jidda delivered a speech via video link, calling for young people from Africa and China to shoulder the responsibilities of shared prosperity and work together.
On the opening day, nearly 100 Chinese and African youths also participated in roundtable talks about “the role of political parties in promoting the development of the country” and “the role of youth in promoting a closer China-Africa community with a shared future.”
In addition, they experienced a number of traditional Chinese cultural activities such as Peking opera, a tea ceremony, craft dyeing and traditional Chinese musical instruments at China Soong Ching Ling Science and Culture Center for Young People.
Over the next few days, African youth delegates will visit the Museum of the Communist Party of China, venues for the 2022 Winter Games and high-tech companies, providing a comprehensive look at the past, present and future of China.
One of Sierra Leone representatives Mariatu Kargbo aka Maria the Black Pearl of China and a philanthropist described the festive as a fantastic one that helps to deepen the China-Africa ties.
She went on to say the interaction between Chinese and Africans showed a win-win situation between the two. She spoke about their role as youth to develop and promote the China –Africa ties.
Ambassador We Peng former Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone said they are willing to listen to more African young voices on suggestions to China – Africa relations. He emphasized that the passionate and dedicated young generation will pass on and injects fresh impetus into their partnership.
Nigerian Ambassador to China, Baba Ahmad Jidda, delivers a speech via video link at the opening ceremony of the sixth China-Africa Youth Festival.
An African participant shows a heart-shaped wooden craft he made during the cultural activities at the sixth China-Africa Youth Festival in Beijing.
