Shandong advancing China-Africa cooperation

A meeting on Shandong's efforts to support the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held on Thursday in Beijing, highlighting the province's initiative to promote modernization in both China and Africa.

The event brought together representatives of Chinese officials, African ambassadors and the permanent representative of the African Union to China, experts and representatives from Shandong enterprises.

It aims to strengthen policy communication, align cooperation needs and showcase Shandong's hospitality and high-quality products.

Cai Xianjin, the director of Shandong Provincial Foreign Affairs Office announced the province's implementation plan to carry forward the outcomes of the 2024 Summit of FOCAC and deepen China-Africa cooperation.

Shandong will focus on expanding sister-city relationships, boosting trade and industrial collaboration and promoting overseas parks and rural development, further enhancing cooperation in infrastructure, healthcare and green growth, advance vocational education and address livelihood issues to improve people's well-being.

Local governments from Weifang, Weihai, Linyi, Dezhou and Binzhou shared their advantages and cooperation plans. Ambassadors of Mozambique, Senegal, Uganda, Tanzania and Morocco outlined their countries' specific cooperation needs.

Khamis Mussa Omar, the representative of Tanzania to China, noted the country's long-term cooperation with Shandong in fields such as healthcare, private investments and vocational education, "We have to deepen cooperation to achieve shared prosperity and win-win results," he said.

Representatives from the UNDP China and the UNIDO Investment and Technology Promotion Office Beijing introduced their work mechanisms and successful cases. Shandong enterprises also presented their key projects and platforms which are operating in Africa.