Student says Chinese Dream inspires Africans

"The Chinese Dream is also part of the dream of many in the developing world who now have a great opportunity to grow their economies with China's help. Africa's adoption of the "looking East" policy is recognition of the importance of China among developing nations," Doh says.

Doh says China and Africa are in a honeymoon period, but eventually the practicalities of a marriage will impose themselves, and both parties will need to start analyzing any social and cultural differences between them that could be the seeds of future problems.

But rather than drawing back from one another, Doh says China and Africa should redouble their efforts to deal with anything that threatens to come between them.

"Like many other Africans in China, I feel rejuvenated by the concept of the Chinese Dream. China has been willing and good enough to give opportunities to all those who have sought them, and I count myself among them," he says.

"Chinese investors in Africa need to be taught more about the continent. The culture and legal environment in Africa is one of the most diverse in the world and it is only by understanding this diversity that China and Africa can fully benefit from this relationship that is coming of age."

Research on China-Africa engagement has been critical to China's activities in Africa, but he says there are few people proposing ways the two can work more closely together and how problems can be solved.

"In keeping with the spirit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, myself and those I work with are looking for ways to advance ties. Together with a Chinese student, Zhou Jinbo, I have published a book on the subject, and Zhou will go to South Africa to pursue his doctoral studies. Students and teachers alike have been heavily involved in translating and proofreading the book," Doh says.

All of this is an answer to President Xi's call for young people to dare to dream, work hard, and work assiduously to fulfill the dream and contribute to the revitalization of a great nation. Doh believes that if he and all the university students unite and work hard, as they have at Shenzhen University, that great dream will be realized.