Albert Rugaba

Albert Rugaba (Rwanda)

Chief Representative, Rwanda Developing Board China Office

I believe the youth is the future of the China-Africa economic and trade development, and they should be more involved, especially given the growing number of young Africans attracted by China, either for study or business. This category of Africans is the one that is going to push the bilateral economic relationship to new heights if given opportunities. I also believe the youth could play a bigger role than they are playing now. For instance there are a lot of young entrepreneurs in chambers of commerce in Africa that could be connected with Chinese companies for business and investment in a more modern and efficient way. The expanding China-Africa relationship affects the youth in a lot of ways, for instance the youth in Rwanda are discovering opportunities that China offers to them in terms of starting their import-export business. This is also changing the way they perceive the world business map.

Tebogo Lefifi (South Africa)

Chairwoman of Young African Professionals and Students

My advice to young Africans studying in China is to learn to brand themselves, and to know their value in China-Africa relations. I would suggest they develop a keen understanding of China-Africa relations, bilateral relations with their own countries and potential market opportunities. We need to look at skills and technologies that we can transfer to our own economies and make ourselves relevant in key sectors of trade and exchanges with China.