OREANDA-NEWS. November 13, 2013. To further enhance the level of cultural and academic exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa, the opening ceremony of the 3rd meeting of China-Africa Think Tank Forum and the launching ceremony of "China-Africa Think Tanks 10+10 Partnership Plan" were held in Beijing. State Councilor Yang Jiechi was present and delivered a speech. Zhai Jun, Vice Foreign Minister, Li Yang, Vice President of Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CASS), Nolana Ta Ama, Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps, Yuan Li, Vice President of CDB and scholar representatives from Chinese and African think tanks made speeches.

China-Africa Think Tank Forum is a non-governmental academic exchange platform under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and the "10+10 Partnership Plan" refers to the partner relationship between Chinese and African think tanks. The meeting was organized by Zhejiang Normal University and the Institute of West Asia and Africa Studies of CASS and supported by CDB. Nearly 300 people, including members of the Chinese Follow-up Committee of FOCAC, African envoys to China, Chinese and African scholars, and others.

In his speech, State Councilor Yang Jiechi, on behalf of the Chinese government, extended congratulations on the holding of the China-Africa Think Tanks Forum and the official launch of the China-Africa Think Tanks "10+10 Partnership Plan". He pointed out that China-Africa Think Tanks Forum has built an institutionalized platform for exchanges among scholars of Chinese and African think tanks. The launch of the "10+10 Partnership Plan" will further elevate exchanges and cooperation between China-Africa think tanks. He hopes that scholars of think tanks from both sides seize the favorable opportunity of rapid development of China-Africa relations, enhance their sense of mission, have a right understanding of today's world, and strengthen researches on China-Africa relations and on other issues related to Africa and China, provide intellectual support for the development of China-Africa relations and at the same time, strive to have a greater voice in the world and better meet the requirements by the development of the bilateral relations.

CDB's Vice President Yuan Li said in his speech at the opening ceremony that as one of the member units of the Chinese Follow-up Committee of FOCAC, CDB has been actively supporting the implementation of the action plans set by FOCAC. It has initiated the establishment of China-Africa Development Fund; independently offering special loans for the development of African small and medium-size enterprises (SMEs); supporting practical cooperative projects between China and Africa through the "investment + loan" financial service pattern and participated in and supported cultural and academic exchanges between China and Africa in many different ways. CDB will continue to leverage its advantages in development financing, combine its financing and intellectual resources, strengthen and deepen cooperation with Africa and contribute to the development of both China and Africa.

According to introduction, by the end of June 2013, CDB has offered an accumulated nearly 25 billion US dollars of loans of different kinds to African countries to support the construction of over 200 practical cooperation projects. The projects play positive roles in boosting economic development of African countries, increased employment and improved livelihood of local people.

During the meeting, in-depth discussions were conducted on specific topics such as "Upgrading China-Africa Relations", "The Structure of Independent Values of Chinese and Africans and China's Studies on Africa and Africa's Studies on China", etc. The meeting approved the Proposal of China-Africa Think Tanks 10+10 Partnership Plan, further improved the level and standard of academic exchanges between China and Africa and provided solid intellectual support for the pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa.