On April 9, 2021, International Symposium Commemorating the 2nd Anniversary of Xi Jinping's Congratulatory Letter to the Inauguration of the China-Africa Institute(CAI) was held in Beijing. Professor Wang Linggui, vice president of the CASS and president of the CAI, attended the symposium and delivered a speech. Professor Li Xinfeng, the Executive President of the CAI and director-general of the IWAAS presided over the symposium. Professor Wang Lincong, vice president of the CAI, deputy director-general of the IWAAS made a concluding speech. Professor ZhouYunfan, the deputy director-general of Bureau of International Cooperation Chinese Academy of Sciences, Professor Wang Xiaoming, vice president of the CAI, deputy director-general of the IWAAS and about 70 experts and scholars from universities and research institutions from China and Africa participated in the symposium.

participants reviewed the spirit of H.E.President Xi’s congratulatory letter by watching the video in which the letter was read by Yang Jiechi

First and foremost, participants of the symposium reviewed the spirit of H.E.President Xi’s congratulatory letter by watching the video in which the letter was read by Yang Jiechi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee on April 9, 2019.

Professor Wang Linggui

Professor Wang Linggui said in his speech that H.E.President Xi’s congratulatory letter highly summarized the basic characteristics of the changes in the world today, and emphasized the importance and practical path of strengthening African studies to promote China-Africa relations in a world undergoing major changes unseen in a century.

Professor Wang Linggui pointed out that 2021 is the 100^th  anniversary of the CPC, the 50th anniversary of the restoration of China’s seat in the United Nations. It is the historical intersection of the “two centenary goals” to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation and it is the first year of China's "14th Five-Year Plan" and the building of a modern and powerful socialist country in an all-round way. In this context, it is of great significance for Chinese and African scholars to review the spirit of H.E.President Xi's congratulatory letter, and jointly plan for the future development of the CAI.

Professor Wang pointed out that the inauguration of the CAI is an important result of the implementation of the consensus of China and Africa and the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. It is a new step that conforms to the new trends and requirements of the development of China-Africa relations. Since its inauguration two years ago, the CAI has injected new vitality into the continuous enrichment and development of China-Africa friendly cooperation, and contributed to the development of China-Africa relations and the construction of a China-Africa community with a shared future and a community with a shared future for mankind. This important initiative will surely mark in the history of China-Africa friendship with sharing its fruitful research results and ideas.

Professor Wang said that Xie Fuzhan, President of the CASS has repeatedly emphasized that the CASS must earnestly implement the spirit of the President Xi's congratulatory letter, deeply study and understand the spirit of the congratulatory letter, adhere to the spirit of the congratulatory letter as the guide, and concentrate the efforts of the CASS to run the CAI well and make our due contribution to the stability and long-term development of China-Africa relations. In the past two years, with the joint efforts of President Cai Fang of the CASS and all colleagues, the CAI has taken the spirit of the President Xi's congratulatory letter, earnestly implemented the instructions and requirements of President Xie Fuzhan, and closely focused on the "four major functions" of communication platform, research base, talent highland, and communication window and initial results have been achieved.

Professor Wang reviewed the achievements of the CAI in the past two years. First, the research work has been steadily advanced, and China-Africa cooperative research has been steadily carried out. Second, a China-Africa academic exchange platform has been set up and a variety of exchange activities have been carried out. Third, it has opened up a new window of communication between China and Africa and expanded its academic influence. Fourth, it has improved the system and strengthened the institutional construction. Fifth, it has enhanced people-to-people exchanges between China and Africa. He emphasized that in the past two years, the CAI has made great progress in the positioning of the "four major functions", but there is still a certain gap between the requirements of the spirit of the congratulatory letter from President Xi Jinping. Therefore, we should continue to enhance our political standing, strengthen our mission, and promote the high-quality development of the CAI.

Professor Wang pointed out that in the new era of major changes unseen in a century and overall strategy for the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation, and on the new journey of the people of African countries who are constantly pursuing a better life, facing the severe COVID-19 pandemic in the world today, it is even more precious and important to continuously strengthen the friendship between the people of China and Africa. The CAI will continue to gather resources from China-Africa academic think tanks, enhance mutual understanding and friendship between the Chinese and African peoples, and strengthen China-Africa cultural exchanges. This year, we will continue to implement the spirit of the congratulatory letter to actively work on  "four major functions" as we used to, and focus on in-depth research on African issues in the new era, and carry out a series of Academic activities, strive to introduce high-quality academic results to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the CPC.

Professor Wang said that the CAI is willing to work with Chinese and African academic community to build a platform for China-Africa cooperation and exchanges in order to jointly consolidate China's African research base, build a professionals pool for African research, and tell the story of China-Africa friendly cooperation. On behalf of the CAI, he issued an initiative to the experts and scholars present: to further strengthen the exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and African think tanks, to further strengthen China-Africa joint research, to further promote the voice of Chinese and African scholars, and to further promote the continuous improvement of working mechanisms.

In his conclusion, Professor Wang said that the congratulatory letter has added vigorous impetus to African research. We believe that with the joint efforts of everyone, China-Africa research will continue to reach new heights, and the hearts of the people of China and Africa will get closer and closer.

Professor Li Xinfeng

After the speech by Professor Wang, nine Chinese and African expert representatives gave keynote speeches on commemorating the spirit of the congratulatory letter from President Xi and work together to promote mutual learning between Chinese and African civilizations.

Professor Wang Lincong

Finally, Professor Wang Lincong made a concluding speech, in which he said that the symposium was very successful and achieved many important results and Professor Wang Linggui summarized the achievements of the CAI over the past two years, and put forward new requirements on how to comprehend the spirit of President Xi’s congratulatory letter, how to promote China’s African studies and think tank construction, and how to run the CAI well. The thoughtful speeches of three African scholars and six Chinese scholars, demonstrated the understanding of the Chinese and African academic communities on the spirit of President Xi Jinping's congratulatory letter. Based on reality, scholars from both sides suggested  how to be the communicators and researchers of China-Africa mutual learning of civilizations, as well as the actors and practitioners of the China-Africa community with a shared future, by sharing their own experiences and exploring solutions together from the perspective of "mutual learning from civilizations."  He hoped that the Chinese and African academic community will follow the spirit of President Xi's congratulatory letter, strengthen exchanges and cooperation, and contribute to building a China-Africa community with a shared future.

symposium venue