FOCAC 2024 Summit holds first press conference

The first press conference of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held at its media center in Beijing on Monday.

At the press conference, officials from the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC), the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, the State Taxation Administration and the Ministry of Ecology and Environment introduced China-Africa cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Xu Jianping, director of the NDRC's Department of Regional Opening-up, briefed on the progress of China-Africa BRI cooperation, covering wide sectors of infrastructure, healthcare, green development, digital cooperation, agriculture and talent cultivation.

"Over the past 11 years, China and Africa have jointly built the Belt and Road cooperation, transforming ideas into actions and vision into reality, injecting new impetus and vitality into the economic and social development of African countries, and providing important support for accelerating the construction of a community with a shared future between China and Africa," said Xu.

Taking questions from the floor, the panel shared more insights into China's plan to deepen partnership in emerging fields including green development and the digital economy, to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation with African countries.

With the aim of creating a community with a shared future, African countries have come to China for this year's FOCAC to strengthen partnerships. Journalists attending this presser shared their views on the BRI.

"Taking you a few years back, China had built the TAZARA railway. The TAZARA railway a train railway from Tanzania to Zambia. So, it was called TAZARA. Back then we had the old type of trains, but now through this partnership, we have the first electric train in our country. And this might not be news to you, but it's news to us because that's a great revolution in terms of transportation," said Kanky Mwaigomole, a news anchor with the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation.

"When you talk about the Belt and Road Initiative, you talk about economic growth, you talk about opportunities. And that is essentially what we are here for. And looking at the lessons that China has provided, I mean, in my time here in Beijing, basically what I've observed is that China is highly technologically advanced. It's highly important that the world comes together, particularly to ensure that we bring President Xi Jinping's vision to fruition, of a modernized global economy with a shared future for all mankind," said Ayanda Mdluli, an editor with the Independent Media.

The media center started operation earlier on Monday, providing services such as radio and television coverage, official photos, and conference information to both Chinese and foreign journalists.

The summit, which will be held under the theme of "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future" from Sept. 4 to 6, has seen registration from over 3,000 Chinese and foreign journalists, reaching a new high in the history of the FOCAC summits.

FOCAC 2024 Summit holds first press conference

At the final day of the 47th WorldSkills Competition in the French city of Lyon, the race for medals heated up, with participants from roughly 70 nations showing their mettle.

Formerly known as the International Vocational Training Organization, WorldSkills is an international charity, which organizes national championships for vocational skills. Every two years, the organization hosts a competition, attracting competitors from around the world.

This year's competition ran from Wednesday to Saturday, with the closing ceremony on Sunday. The event brought together approximately 1,400 participants from nearly 70 countries and regions to compete in 59 skill categories spanning vocations ranging from artwork to welding.

China sent 68 participants to participated in 59 different disciplines.

Teams say it is a collaborative environment, but winning gold can help make their professional career's sparkle.

"I think it's for their career, for the whole of their life. And then they can join this field and they can have a very good start of their journey, their life," said Zou Ningxin, a jewelry expert of Team China.

Medals may be up for the grabs but the goal of the biannual Workskills Expo is also for crowds here to draw inspiration.

This event is designed to give people a little taste of different parts of the working world and what ingredients are needed to be successful in a chosen career.

The expo also gives delegations the opportunity to learn from one another.

"They're able to come here and see how they match up against other countries. It's a benchmarking system as well as an individual assessment of the competitors who are representing their nation," said Shawna Bourke, director of Marketing and Communications of the WorldSkills International.

This biannual event is seen as an opportunity to try and address shared problems like water pollution.

"Urban water sewage treatment and industrial water reuse are the fundamental ways to solve this problem. So water technology is very important today," said Wang Zhan, water technology expert of Team China.

Several days of tough competition culminates in a medal ceremony. And the hope is that these competitors will inspire a new generation of skilled workers to come out of the woodwork.

Shanghai is scheduled to play host to the competition's 48th edition in September 2026.

Race for medals heats up on last day of 47th WorldSkills Competition