China's top legislator Wu Bangguo said the Africa-China Young Leaders Forum should follow and serve the overall interests of China-Africa relations.
Wu, Chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, China's top legislature, offered three suggestions at the opening ceremony of the forum which opened on May 21 in Windhoek, capital of Namibia.
Wu said that first the forum's work should be integrated into the overall framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) established under the joint initiative of China and African countries in 2000, a guiding function in Sino-African cooperation.
Second, he saw the Young Leaders Forum as a new yet important platform for China and Africa to increase exchanges among their youth. This forum also plays a significant role in enhancing mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese and African peoples, he said.
Wu also suggested the Young Leaders Forum should promote the traditional friendship between China and Africa. "I hope our young friends will do their part to add new dimensions to our traditional friendship to promote the sustained development of Sino-African friendly relations," he said.
Third, the Young Leaders Forum promotes China-Africa practical cooperation, an important task in advancing China-Africa ties, according to Wu. He told the youth present that they should take advantage of the forum as it brings together talented people, and offers suggestions and recommendations on enhancing China-Africa practical cooperation.
A total of over 200 delegates from 18 African countries and China attended the forum, which is jointly organized by the Namibia's SWAPO Party and the Communist Party of China.
(Reporting from Windhoek) |