A group of 41 African youngsters from member countries of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation visited the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) on Oct 27, aiming to learn more about China's socialist political system.

The visit was organized by the General Office of the CPPCC National Committee and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China to help young Africans deepen their understanding and recognition of China's socialist political system and promote long-term development of China-Africa relations.

It was an important part of the fifth China-Africa Youth Festival as this year marks the 20th anniversary of the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. 

African youngsters discuss with members of the CPPCC National Committee during their visit to the CPPCC National Committee, on Oct 27, 2020. [Photo/cppcc.gov.cn]

The African youth visited the meeting room of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee and the auditorium of the CPPCC National Committee, and viewed an exhibition featuring the history and work of the CPPCC. 

"It's a rare opportunity to know about China, especially its system of multiparty cooperation and political consultation led by the Communist Party of China," said Hosany Sumayyah from Mauritius who has lived in China for 12 years.

African youth visit the meeting room of the Standing Committee of the CPPCC National Committee. [Photo/China Daily]

The African youth also held discussions with members of the CPPCC National Committee's  China-Africa Friendship Group and exchanged views on bilateral relations.

Guo Jun, deputy secretary-general of the CPPCC National Committee and deputy head of the friendship group, called on African youth to become an envoy of China-Africa friendship, play an active role in China-Africa exchanges and show dedication to the cause of mutual friendship and the building of a community with a shared future for China and Africa.

African youth view an exhibition featuring the history and work of the CPPCC. [Photo/China Daily]

Hang Yuanxiang, a member of the Committee on Social and Legal Affairs under the CPPCC National Committee and executive vice-chairman of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation, said the foundation is committed to promoting people-to-people exchanges between Chinese and foreign youth and each year it will hold such activities as Belt and Road international youth study workshops and interactive camps as platforms for youth from various countries to exchange, study and discuss cooperation. 

Joseph Olivier Mendo'o, a Chinese university student from Cameroon who spoke fluent Chinese, hoped China can help Africa train vocational talents so more African youth can find jobs, indicating concerns about vocational education and desire for increased exchanges between African and Chinese youth.

China will launch some micro programs on poverty reduction and people's livelihood improvement in African countries to facilitate African people's employment and enhance their capabilities, replied Zhu Yongxin, deputy secretary-general of the CPPCC National Committee and a member of the friendship group.

African youth visit an exhibition featuring the history and work of the CPPCC. [Photo/China Daily]

Zhu noted that China will continue vocational training in Africa, such as the Luban Workshop that has already opened in Djibouti and South Africa, to help African youth develop better working skills and careers.

Yang Yanyi, a member of the friendship group and former head of Chinese Mission to the European Union, said China and Africa should deepen exchanges in the process of Belt and Road construction, adding that she believed that the China-Africa friendship will continue to flourish from generation to generation through joint efforts of both sides.

African youth view an exhibition featuring the history and work of the CPPCC. [Photo/China Daily]

During the outbreak of COVID-19 many young African doctors and volunteers contributed to China's fight against the virus, said Cui Li, a member of the friendship group and former vice-minister of the National Health Commission of China.

Yao Ming, chairman of the Chinese Basketball Association and a member of the friendship group, extended greetings to the African youth via video and expressed his wish to have more exchanges in more fields between the two sides, even though China and Africa are on different continents and have different cultural backgrounds.