"The 2nd Conference on Dialogue Between Chinese and African Civilizations" was held by China-Africa Institute (CAI) from May 16 to May 17, 2023 in Beijing. As part of the event, more than a dozen diplomats and scholars from African countries visited Zhengding County and Pingshan County in north China’s Hebei Province and explored the success of Chinese modernization.
The delegates went to Xibaipo in Pingshan county of Hebei Province. Xibaipo is a historical memorial of Communist Party of China (CPC). During the period of Chinese Liberation War (1946-1949), the Central Committee of the CPC and the Chinese people's Liberation Army set up their headquarter there. Chairman Mao proposed the "two imperatives" in which he called on all Party Members must continue to remain modest, cautious, not arrogant, not impetuous style, and must continue to maintain the style of hardwork.
The African scholars were deeply impressed when visiting Xibaipo Memorial Hall and the former site of the CPC’s central committee, saying that they now have more profound understanding of the CPC’s history.
"You are in touch with the Chinese history. This is real. I saw the bed of Chairman Mao. I saw his office. I saw his house," said Professor Peter Kagwanja, president and chief executive of the Africa Policy Institute, Kenya.
"It takes me back to where China has come from, to see this almighty country that has all the sophisticated technologies. Yet it has come from very very deep struggles of people. So struggles of Mao Zedong, Chairman Mao and his colleges is very inspiring. China inspired the freedom movement in Kenya. We took arms and fought against colonialists, British colonizers," said Professor Kagwanja.
The delegates met a group of Chinese students by coincidence in the Memorial Hall. Professor Kagwanja said, "I think the most impressive part for me was to see children coming to see the touching part of their history. The danger we face a country like China is you get modernized and you forget where you come from, and it's always good to see children here."
The delegates also paid a visit to Tayuan Village of Zhengding County where used to be a place with poverty in Hebei Province. Chinese President Xi Jinping worked in Zhengding from 1982 to1985 as the Deputy Secretary and Secretary of the CPC Committee of Zhengding County. He was the right person who led the fight against poverty at that time. It has been 30 years since then, and President Xi has always been concerned about the livelihood of the local peoplethere. He paid visits to the county for six times and to Tayuan village twice. He gave important instructions on the development of agriculture, the aging industry and tourism industry in Zhengding. Under the leadership of local CPC Committee and government, Zhengding has now transferred into a village with moderate prosperity. The total economic income in Tayuan village reached 32 million Yuan in 2021, and the villagers’ average incomes increased to 30,000 Yuan.
The delegates went to Tayuan Village History Museum and a local smart farm. The tour impressed the African delegates with the model of digital agriculture and how rural vitalization serves as a key move to develop a modernized economy. Tayuan village has vitalized rural industries and built an industrial system that focuses on promoting agricultural modernization and the integrated development of the primary, secondary and tertiary industries. This is in line with the "strategy of rural vitalization" which was initiated by President Xi in the report of the 19th National Congress of the CPC. The report stated that issues relating to agriculture, rural areas, and rural people are fundamental to China as they directly concern our country’s stability and our people’s well-being.
The African delegates had heated discussion with Mr. Wang Sugang, Deputy Chief Executive of Zhengding County. Mr. Wang briefed the African scholars on the economic achievements and social development in Zhengding and shared experiences on building a new countryside in China. Mr. Wang said that President Xi devoted great efforts and had deep affection for Zhengding. This has laid a solid foundation for the development of Zhengding, and left the local leadership with spiritual wealth and ideological value. They are the inspiration for the development of Zhengding. He emphasized on the importance of leadership of the CPC, the hard work, reform and innovation, openness and inclusiveness which are the keys to succeed in rural vitalization.
Nkolo Foé, professor of the University of Yaounde 1, Cameroon said, "Yesterday we visited Xibaipo where the CPC strove to reach the goal of Chinese revolution under the leadership of Chairman Mao. The Chinese history is a great source of inspiration for African countries in their liberation campaigns in the 20th century. Today we are here in Zhengding, witnessing the construction of a new socialist countryside and the process of rural vitalization under the leadership of President Xi. We feel a historical linkage here and we are so touched by it. The CPC’s leadership has always been people-centered for the good of national rejuvenation and the well-being of its people. There are still development issues and issues relating to post-colonialism in Africa. We should fight for deeper liberalization and better development, and China’s support and experiences are of great significance for Africa."
The delegates toured in Inatural Biotech, a leading company in LAB (Lactic acid bacteria) and probiotic products in China. The company which boasts an annual output of 500 tons of bacterial powder was established in 2011. For over a decade, Inatural Biotech has dedicated to probiotic research, biomedical technology innovation and industrialization, pioneered the industrialization of probiotic freeze-drying technology in the country, and is among the first companies to help draft China's "Edible Lactic Acid Bacteria" industry standards. The African delegates even had the chance to try some of the company’s probiotic products. They spoke highly of Chinese companies’ capability in innovation and management.
The African Scholars enjoyed Chinese culture by walking along the ancient city wall and touring Rong Mansion, a film and TV shooting base built for the filming of a household TV series "Dream of Red Mansions" in China. The African scholars said that the trip helped them better understand the history and significance of the CPC in their pursuit of Chinese modernization, and how mutual learning of civilization would push forward modernization for China and Africa.
(Photo by Dong Jiacheng)