By Jenipher Asiimwe (our correspondent in Beijing, China)
On the occasion of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit 2024, the Vice President of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire Thiemoko Meliette Kone visited the Communication University of China (CUC) and delivered a keynote speech. At the same time, on behalf of the President of the Republic of Cote d’Ivoire Alassane Dramane Ouattara accepted the appointment of honorary professor of our university.
During his maiden visit, VP Kone was accompanied by Lhasa.Kakou Wayya León Adom, Minister for Foreign Affairs, African Integration and Diaspora of the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire, The Minister of Economy, Planning and Development, Nialle Kabbah, Minister of Trade and Industry Suleiman Diarrasubako, Minister of Communications and Government Spokesperson Amadou Coulibaly, Ambassador to China Adama Doso, and Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of Côte d’Ivoire Wu Jie.
The ceremony was presided over by Yang Yi, vice president of Communication University of China.
Liao Xiangzhong, Party Secretary of Communication University of China; Zhang Shuting, President; Yuan Bingzhong, Vice President of Xinhua News Agency; Qi Zhuquan, member of the Editorial Board of China Radio and Television Station and director of the Bureau of International Exchange, welcomed Vice President Kone and his delegation in front of the Guozheng Building. Chinese and African students waved the national flags of the two countries in our school.
Vice President Kone recalled with deep emotion the history of exchanges between the Chinese and African peoples. He said that the history of people-to-people exchanges between Africa and China dates back centuries. Since the 15th century, the local Chinese have made important contributions to Africa’s cultural diversity and mutual integration. In particular, he recalled the increasingly close cooperation between China and Africa since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 and its contribution to the Third World struggle for unity against and non-alignment.
He said that looking back at history, China-Africa people-to-people and cultural exchanges have grown and become an important pillar of China-Africa cooperation and established deep ties between China and Africa. The establishment of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in October 2000 has injected new vitality into China-Africa relations, and they hope and promise to continue to deepen China-Africa relations within a more formal and improved organizational framework.
He said that the 2024 FOCAC Summit will adopt the 2025-2027 Action Plan. The plan will inject new impetus into China-Africa relations in the next three years, and it will consolidate people-to-people exchanges between China and Africa, help China and Africa jointly address global challenges and contribute to a more equitable and balanced international governance.
VP Kone is among thousands of African politicians, technocrats and non-state actors that gathered in Beijing, China’s administrative capital to participate in the 2024, FOCAC from and held meeting with China President Xi Jinping from September 4th to 6th. Among other key dignitaries that participated in the event among others include Kenya President William Ruto, Tanzania President Suluhu Hassan,Zambia President Hichilema Hakainde. Others include Cameroon President Paul Biya, South Sudan President Salva Kir and Uganda VP Jessica Alupo.
