A senior Chinese diplomat, Liu Yuxi, praised China-Africa relations as a model of openness, innovation, and “multilateralism” during a recent conference. Liu, a special representative on African affairs, spoke at the 3rd Conference on Dialogue between Chinese and African civilizations.
Highlighting the economic benefits of the partnership, Liu pointed to China’s role as Africa’s largest trading partner for 15 years, with bilateral trade exceeding $282 billion in 2023. He credited this success to China’s commitment to non-interference in African affairs and a focus on mutual benefit.
“China never interferes in the continent’s development path and internal affairs, never imposes its will on Africa, never attaches political conditions to aid, and never seeks political self-interest in investment and financing,” Liu said. These principles, he argued, are the foundation of a “shared future” for China and Africa.
The conference, themed “Inheritance, Sharing, Development: Toward a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future,” brought together over 100 scholars, diplomats, and media representatives from both continents.
African Union representative Rahamtalla Mohamed Osman emphasized the importance of dialogue between civilizations in today’s complex world. He believes such exchanges foster understanding, respect, and cooperation, leading to a more peaceful and prosperous future.
“Through dialogue and exchange, people can learn from each other, dispel stereotypes and misunderstandings and work together to address common problems and challenges,” Osman said.
Both Liu and Osman highlighted the long history of China-Africa relations and the need to further deepen cooperation. Gao Xiang, dean of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, proposed exploring new avenues for collaboration, including governance experience sharing, agricultural modernization, and industrial development.