African Day - Africa's Development Needs Peaceful Environment

Chinese joined Africans to celebrate the event in Beijing.

African diplomatic missions in China celebrated Africa Day in Beijing. The Day which was in its 55th edition in May celebrates the establishment of the African Union (AU), at the time it was called the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). The celebration was organised in the Chinese capital, Beijing, by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs with the collaboration of the African Group of Ambassadors in Beijing. It was attended by Cameroon's Ambassador to China, Martin Mpana, including current Chinese leaders and former Chinese ambassadors to African countries, as well as scholars, business people and cultural adepts. Keynote addresses on the occasion harped essentially on "Sustainable Development in Africa and China-Africa Relations: Opportunities and Challenges." Speakers were unanimous in their views that both China and Africa should further strengthen win-win cooperation and foster industrialisation. Each of the speakers emphasised on the fact that Africa's development needs a peaceful environment. The celebration was an important warm-up event for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, FOCAC, to hold in Beijing in September this year, to further discuss the cooperation plans set up at the Johannesburg Summit in 2015. "Actors in the China-Africa cooperation should bear in mind that Africa as a continent has each of its country with a different culture. We wish to use the Beijing Summit to discuss with our brothers from Africa how we can enhance the development of our continent. Agenda 2063 should generate into a peaceful and prosperous society... an Africa of good governance, common heritage, values and identity, a strong resilient and one Africa," the Ambassador of Cape Verde said. She exhorted a peaceful and free of conflict continent and encouraged African governments to embrace the Belt and Road Initiative to connect Asia and Europe with Africa, aiming to connect economies, businesses and peoples as well. Former Chinese Ambassador to Congo appreciated the African hospitality and said there are many cooperation opportunities. He emphasized on the important role of industrialization in building a prosperous Africa, emphasizing that the China-Africa industrialization plan put forth by Chinese President Xi Jinping can afford a great deal.

AllAfrica publishes around 400 reports a day from more than 100 news organizations and over 500 other institutions and individuals, representing a diversity of positions on every topic. We publish news and views ranging from vigorous opponents of governments to government publications and spokespersons. Publishers named above each report are responsible for their own content, which AllAfrica does not have the legal right to edit or correct.

Articles and commentaries that identify allAfrica.com as the publisher are produced or commissioned by AllAfrica. To address comments or complaints, please Contact us.