Inspired by a letter from President Xi Jinping, African scholars in China are pledging to enhance their contributions to the partnership between China and Africa, aiming for a more peaceful and prosperous future together.
President Xi attaches great importance to China-Africa relations. Prior to the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) 2024 Summit, he replied to a letter from scholars of 50 African nations, encouraging them to continue providing intellectual support for building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future and safeguarding the common interests of the Global South.
Among them was Professor Yoro Diallo, a prominent researcher from the Republic of Mali who's now working at the Institute of African Studies, China's first comprehensive institute established specially for African studies under Zhejiang Normal University.
"Since 2013, Xi Jinping has done a lot for China-Africa cooperation. We [wrote] a letter to Xi to explain to him what we are doing. Immediately, I can say in a few hours, [we received] the answers, the response of President Xi," said Professor Diallo in a recent interview with CCTV.
In his letter dated Aug 27, President Xi expressed appreciation for these scholars' years-long dedication to the research on China and China-Africa ties, which has provided an important platform for African friends to understand China's history, culture and accomplishments in the new era.
Diallo pointed out the significance of Xi's message in shedding light on the future course for bilateral academic cooperation.
"He [showed] us that he is close to people, [and] how he would like to see [Chinese] scholar and African scholar working hand in hand to build a common prosperity for Africans and Chinese," he said.
Diallo said he has a special connection with China since childhood, as his father was the principal of a school built with Chinese aid and a Chinese doctor helped cure her mother's illness.
Recalling his first meeting with President Xi as a diplomat in 2014, Diallo said the Chinese leader smiled to him and encouraged him to explore different regions in China.
"I've been surprised, from 2013 to today 2024, how China rapidly changes. [There's] a sentence from Xi Jinping, who said, 'to realize the happiness of the people is the focus of our daily work'. And I think that the governance of China is working daily to make Chinese people happy," said Diallo.
Noting that China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future, Xi stressed in his letter that the two sides need solidarity and cooperation more than ever in a world fraught with turbulence and change.
A big fan of Chinese Kung Fu, Diallo's colleague, Cameroonian scholar Rodrigue Tene Taling believed the Chinese martial arts provide key insights into maintaining world peace.
"[I] learned about Chinese Kung Fu through martial arts films from a young age. Chinese martial arts hold that 'the Essence of Using Force Is to Stop Violence'. If the whole world embraced this concept, there would be no wars," said Taling, who's now the executive director of the Center for African Films and TV under the Institute of African Studies.
During the FOCAC 2024 Summit in early September, Xi pledged that China stands ready to work with Africa to implement 10 partnership action plans to jointly advance modernization. To be implemented in the next three years, the action plans cover areas such as industrial chain cooperation, connectivity, health, agriculture and livelihoods, as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges.
Taling said it will help address key issues concerning Africa's development prospect.
"Without agriculture, we cannot be full; without trade, we cannot be rich; without industry, we cannot be strong. I believe Africa's backwardness primarily lies in trade, agriculture, and industry. The 10 [partnership] action plans proposed by President Xi get right to the spot in talcking these issues," said Taling.
He also stressed the role of young scholars in promoting mutual understanding.
"Young people are the future of Africa and the future of China-Africa friendship. It is our responsibility to establish communication platforms among young scholars," Taling said.
On Sept 30, the day before China's 75th National Day, Diallo received the prestigious 2024 Chinese Government Friendship Award as a recognition of his contribution to the country's development.
"Today, I'm realizing in China my dream. And it encourages me to continue to tell China modernization story. I would like to tell all people to try to understand China. I am sure that if they understand China, they will love China as I love China today," said the African scholar.
Xi's letter inspires African scholars to boost bilateral ties for common prosperity
Xi's letter inspires African scholars to boost bilateral ties for common prosperity
