Working Together to Build a Bridge of China-Africa Friendship — The Second Meeting of Heads of China-Africa People's Friendship Organizations' Shandong Tour

From November 7th to 10th, 2023, heads of delegations from 22 African countries, including the Democratic Republic of Congo and Cameroon, and 26 international organizations gathered in Jinan to participate in the "Second Meeting of Heads of Chinese and African People-to-People Friendship Organizations," jointly hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the China-Africa People's Friendship Association, and the Shandong People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries. The meeting, themed "Hand in Hand to Build a New Era of China-Africa Community with a Shared Future," saw nearly 40 Chinese and African representatives engaging in dialogues on topics such as win-win cooperation between China and Africa, cultural exchange, and the inheritance of friendship. The meeting adopted the "Jinan Declaration," making positive efforts to promote the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future.

A Short Note, Long Feelings—The Enduring Friendship Between Shandong and Africa

During the meeting, the delegation visited Baihua Zhou, Shunjing International Community, and Shandong Heavy Industry Group, experiencing spring water culture, traditional Chinese medicine consultations, and the cutting-edge technology of equipment manufacturing. The blend of tradition and modernity, culture and trade, laid a strong foundation for future Shandong-Africa cooperation and China-Africa cooperation. Delegates expressed their gratitude and reluctance to leave Shandong in writing, expressing their hopes and expectations for China-Africa cooperation through their words.

High-Level Dialogue—Writing a New Chapter in China-Africa People-to-People Cooperation

"China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future. High-level exchanges between China and Africa remain close, pragmatic cooperation has yielded fruitful results, people-to-people exchanges have presented highlights, and international cooperation has become increasingly close." Li Bin, Vice Chairman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a keynote speech. Deng Yunfeng, Vice Governor of Shandong Province, emphasized in his address: "Shandong hopes to continuously expand the dimensions of economic and trade cooperation with Africa, enhance the depth of cooperation exchanges, increase the enthusiasm for people-to-people exchanges, and strengthen people-to-people exchanges."

The Gentle Flow of Spring Water—A First Glimpse of Chinese-Style Modernization

The delegation visited the Shunjing International Community and the Baihua Zhou historical and cultural street. They experienced the integrated development of ancient city protection and modernization, and the interplay of classical and modern cultures. Strolling through Baihua Zhou, they felt the gently flowing spring water culture, and visiting local homes, they sensed the tranquil daily life. While conducting field investigations of community construction, they experienced tea ceremony, paper-cutting, traditional Chinese medicine consultations, and massage, gaining a new understanding of the diverse community life and experiencing Chinese-style modernization in the daily life of the community.

Focusing on the Future—Shandong-Africa Cooperation: A Two-Way Journey

Shandong has a strong industrial base with a full range of categories, and many African countries are accelerating their industrialization process. Shandong and Africa have strong industrial complementarity. The delegation visited the Shandong Heavy Industry Future Technology Museum, marveling at the advanced machinery products of the Heavy Industry Group, and directly became spokespersons for Shandong manufacturing, using their mobile phones to conduct live broadcasts, recommending the agricultural machinery of the Heavy Industry Group to their African friends, achieving a two-way journey of Shandong-Africa cooperation.

The four-day itinerary was packed, and the harvest was plentiful. The warm China-Africa friendship melted away the chill of early winter. As the meeting concluded, the representatives set off for their home countries. The short trip condensed the deep friendship between China and Africa across mountains and seas, building bridges of friendship between China and Africa, and helping the road of China-Africa cooperation become wider and wider.