On May 20, the 14th Conference of the China-Africa Think Tank Forum was successfully held in Kunming, Yunnan. Themed "China-Africa Governance Experience Exchanges and Chinese Modernization", this Forum was hosted by the Secretariat of the Chinese Follow-up Committee of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and co-organized by the China-Africa Institute and the Secretariat of the China Top Think Tanks of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, with Yunnan University of Finance and Economics as the Co-organizer. Over 60 representatives from more than 50 African countries and diplomatic missions in China attended the meeting, focusing on the design and characteristics of China’s phased development system, demonstrating African countries' high attention to and recognition of China's modernization achievements.
On May 20, 2025 the 14th Meeting of the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum was successfully held in Kunming, Yunnan.
Mr. Zhao Yong, Minister-Counselor of the Department of African Affairs in China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, stated in his speech that China is the world's largest developing country, while Africa is the continent with the highest concentration of developing countries. The two sides have always been a community with a shared future and a community of shared interests for win-win cooperation. China pursues its Two Centenary Goals and Chinese Dream, while Africa advances its Agenda 2063 and African Dream. China steadfastly stands with its African brothers, assisting in enhancing self-development capabilities and accelerating modernization. He noted that this year marks the 25th anniversary of FOCAC, which has guided the great-leap-forward development of China-Africa friendly cooperation, aligned long-term visions, elevated collaboration and become a flagship for international engagement with Africa.
Mr. Ye Hailin, President of the China-Africa Institute, stated that the collective rise of developing countries has become an irreversible trend of our times. However, some Western nations, clinging to Cold War mentality and zero-sum game thinking, stubbornly resist the global call for enhanced human solidarity and cooperation; by wielding the sticks of hegemonism, unilateralism and protectionism, they have exacerbated the four major global deficits: peace, development, security and governance. Facing this reality, the Global South should swiftly break free from the constraints of Western modernization paradigms, courageously shoulder the responsibilities of the era, unite progressive forces and promote global development and human progress through high-quality cooperation. He emphasized that the success of Chinese modernization has not only bolstered African countries' confidence in "African solutions to African problems" but also provided China's wisdom, experiences and solutions as references for Africa's development. China and Africa, working in concert to advance modernization, will jointly compose a new era where the modern civilizations of the Chinese nation and Africa shine in mutual brilliance.
Namibia's Ambassador to China, Kaiyamo, stated in his speech that modernization is a complex journey, and each country's unique path is determined by its history, culture and socio-economic context. However, all nations share the common goals of pursuing people's well-being, eradicating poverty and building resilient societies. China’s remarkable transformation over the past 40 years has provided valuable lessons for African countries. China's development is reflected not only in economic growth but also in social equity, institutional reforms and good governance. He emphasized that true modernization should be people-centered and reflected in people’s sense of happiness, dignity and participation. China's remarkable achievements stem from consistently prioritizing people’s needs, lifting hundreds of millions out of poverty, and significantly improving education accessibility and healthcare conditions.
Mr. Yang Shaocheng, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People’s Government of Yunnan Province, pointed out that Yunnan and African countries have broad prospects for cooperation in economic and trade collaboration, cultural exchanges and industrial complementarity. Since 1983, Yunnan has been dispatching Chinese government-aided medical teams to Uganda, cumulatively treating over 100,000 local patients. The perennial rice research team from Yunnan University has also conducted large-scale trial plantings in Uganda and other African countries, contributing to Africa’s food security. Southwest Forestry University and Malian educational institutions jointly established Confucius Institutes and Confucius Classrooms, launching Mali’s first Chinese-language undergraduate program and deepening cultural exchanges. He stated that Yunnan expected representatives from all countries will actively contribute their ideas to co-expand friendly cooperation bridges between Yunnan and Africa, continuously enlarging the "circle of African friends".
The Somali Ambassador to China, Hodan, as a diplomat who studied in China in his early years and has long observed China’s development, pointed out that Chinese modernization is not merely about infrastructure construction and GDP growth, but rather emphasizes the coordinated development of material progress, cultural confidence, social equity and environmental responsibility. She stated that the partnership between China and Somalia has a long history and is deeply rooted in the hearts of the Somali people. In the memories of our generation, there is always an enduring image: Chinese engineers and workers diligently and quietly building roads, bridges and hospitals. The only highway connecting northern and southern Somalia was constructed with Chinese assistance. To date, over 80 large-scale infrastructure projects have been successfully implemented with China's support. The hybrid rice project guided by Professor Yuan Longping has helped Somalia achieve rice self-sufficiency and significantly advanced food security.
Chen Hong, Secretary of the CPC Committee of Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, stated that as a key finance and economics institution in Southwest China, the university possesses distinctive advantages and responsibilities in China-Africa cooperation. The university consistently prioritizes serving national strategies and advancing China-Africa friendship, striving to build a global exchange platform, particularly for developing countries. In the future, the university will continue to leverage its disciplinary strengths to provide more learning opportunities for African youth and further strengthen cooperative exchanges with African higher education institutions.
During the keynote speech session, distinguished guests, including Mohammed Lebatt, former Director of the Office of the Chairperson of the African Union Commission, Chen Xin, Executive Secretary-General of the Council of China Top Think Tanks at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Omar Mjenga, Director of the Center for International Policy in Africa, Tanzania, Wu Chuanhua, Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Journal of China-Africa Studies at the Chinese Academy of African Studies, Findile Mkhwanazi, Vice President of the National School of Government, South Africa, Zhang Youyi, Deputy Director of the African Development Research Division at the Global South Research Center, China Center for International Knowledge on Development, Jean-François Owaye, Vice President of Omar Bongo University, Gabon, Zhu Cuiping, Dean of the Institute of Indian Ocean Regional and Country Studies, Yunnan University of Finance and Economics, Abdeta Beyene, Executive Director of the AU Dialogue Research and Cooperation Center, delivered keynote addresses in succession. The keynote speech session was chaired by Tian Feng, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of African Studies.
This Forum featured four parallel sessions, where participants engaged in in-depth discussions on topics including "Exchanges and mutual learning of governance experience between China and Africa for a just and equitable modernization", "China and Africa jointly implementing the Global Development Initiative to lead an open and win-win modernization", "Deepening mutual learning among civilizations between China and Africa to advocate a people-centered and inclusive modernization", and "Exchanging sustainable development experiences between China and Africa to promote a modernization of peace, security and ecological friendliness".
Chinese and African guests at the meeting unanimously agreed that the achievements of Chinese modernization and its theoretical approach provide valuable insights for African countries in exploring development paths suited to their national conditions, while also strengthening their confidence in achieving shared modernization. As a key force in the modernization efforts of Global South countries, China and Africa share strong alignment in principles, policies and practices. Particularly, the CPC and Chinese Government prioritize the Global South development aspirations and modernization visions, reinvigorating African countries' pursuit of self-determined development paths.
As delegates remarked, "only by learning from history can we understand the rise and fall of nations". The shared historical experiences and development goals between China and Africa determine that they have always been a community with a shared future. Since gained independence, China and African countries have extensively explored institutional arrangements and development paths suited to their national conditions across different eras and contexts, earning mutual respect and understanding, and forming important experiences for the shared modernization path of the Global South. While advancing cooperation under the framework of "Six Modernizations", China and Africa face challenges from disparities and external interference, necessitating enhanced mutual learning, deepened development consensus, and strengthened open-ended autonomous development and collaboration.
This Session also features a special three-day field research program in Yunnan, inviting African diplomats stationed in China as well as Chinese and foreign experts and scholars to conduct in-depth investigations into China's modernization practices in rural revitalization, industrial innovation and grassroots governance.