Representatives from renowned Chineseand African think tanks and research institutions, as well as government officials, businesspeople and NGOs, gathered in Beijing recently to present Sino-African research achievements and launch the China-Africa Think Tanks 10+10 Partnership Plan. Currently, this partnership plan has selected eight institutions from both sides to participate. When fully implemented the plan will include 10 Chinese think tanks and 10 African think tanks for long-term paired cooperation and exchanges.

The Third Meeting of the China-Africa Think Tank Forum (CATTF) and the Launching Ceremony of the Think Tanks 10+10 Partnership Plan took place from October 21 to 22. The event was co-hosted by Zhejiang Normal University (ZNU) and the Institute of West Asian and African Studies (IWAAS) of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS). China Development Bank supported the event, which was themed Upgrading Sino-African Relations and Constructing Chinese and African Soft Power.

"NeitherChinanor Africa can continue to grow without the other," said China State Councilor Yang Jiechi during a speech at the forum. "Through this forum, we will strengthen our partnership, and strengthen the bonds of a shared destiny. We will make the international order more balanced and inclusive."

This year's forum followed gains made at the first meeting, held in 2011 in Zhejiang Province, and the second, held in 2012 in Addis Ababa,Ethiopia. 

ChinAfrica: What role do you think this think tank forum and the partnership play in enhancing Sino-African relations?

»Joseph Onjala, Senior Research Fellow at the Institute for Developmental Studies of theUniversity of Nairobi:The forum is especially important for developing key themes of research development, and upgrading relations between China and Africa. It's an important platform for all involved parties to get together and discuss the issues that we face together. 

»Fatima Harrak, President of the Council for the Development of Social Science Research in Africa:The forum provides a good opportunity for people to meet and see how we can work together. That's the best way of facing up to whatever stereotypes that are coming up in the media.Chinashould pay more attention to cultural relations with Africa, as cultural exchanges will build the basis of understanding. 

»Charles Onunaiju, Special correspondent & member of the editorial board ofPeople's DailyinNigeria:Think tanks are providing the intellectual framework to drive the policy of further cooperation betweenChinaand Africa. I think the forum is very timely, as it's going to add a lot of clarification on issues concerning our cooperation. Think tank exchanges not only provide intellectual support, but they drive it.

»BenardI.Odoh, Senior Lecturer of Geophysics at Nnamdi Azikiwe University inNigeria:I see this partnership as much more - beyond academic research. If we want to have a more hospitable society, we need to encourage one another to have sustainable economic development, to make societies more stable. To do this, we need to establish a bigger focus on infrastructure development of education in Africa. 

»Zhang Zhongxiang, Deputy Director of the Center of African Studies at Shanghai Normal University:The forum promotes Sino-African people-to-people exchanges, which makes our cooperation in other areas more sustainable. It also provides a good opportunity for scholars to discuss problems in Sino-African cooperation and work together to find possible solutions. African scholars can also better understandChina's Africa policy during the exchanges. 

»Sun Xiaomeng, Vice Dean of the School of Asian and African Studies at Beijing Foreign Studies University:Participants at this forum include scholars and researchers from academic institutions, as well as Chinese government officials. The forum works as an innovative mechanism to bring all parties inChinarelated to African affairs together to discuss [relevant issues].

In what areas do you see potential for the think tanks to further improve cooperation, so as to better provide intellectual support for the development of China-Africa relations? 

»Yang Lihua, Research fellow at IWAAS of CASS:The research of the think tanks can focus more attention on the future development trend of China-Africa cooperation, while scholars involved in research projects related to Africa should have the chance to visit Africa for themselves. In addition, I suggest topics discussed at the forum can be more focused. 

»Liu Hongwu:ZNU's Institute of African Studies is partnered with the Nigerian Institute of International Affairs under the China-Africa Think Tanks 10+10 Partnership Plan. We plan to carry out joint research in a wide range of areas including peace and security, infrastructure construction and agricultural technology transfer. We are also considering working with Nigerian universities to establish institutes of Chinese studies. 

»Sun Xiaomeng:I hope our cooperation can be expanded in basic disciplines in African studies such as anthropology, history, society, religion, language and literature. If the Chinese Government can set up special funds to build institutes of Chinese studies in Africa, they will help Africans better understandChina. 

»Benson A. Bana, Head of the Department of Political Science and Public Administration at the University of Dar es Salaam in Tanzania:I believe communication is what makes a relationship easier, and helps our people better understand each other. The Confucius Institute is only one channel. We should also send teachers toChinato teach Swahili, a popular language in Africa. Exchanges of teaching staff and students are also important.  

»Isaac Olawale Albert, Director of the Institute of African Studies at the University of Ibadan inNigeria:The criticism from the Western media thatChinais colonizing Africa is not true. There should be more African scholars coming up to challenge that. I hope the Chinese Government can provide more scholarships for young African researchers to study inChinato understand what these issues are.

 »Stephen Odebero, Senior Lecturer of Planning & Economics of Education at Kenya's Masinde Muliro University of Science and Technology :Education will be the driver of change and cooperation between China and Africa. We need proper investment in research and innovation, and a focus on quality education. The quantity of education alone will not help places likeKenya, but we also need an infusion of ideas such as quality, equity and efficiency.