On May 20, Li Bin, vice-chairwoman of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC) and chairwoman of the China Soong Ching Ling Foundation (CSCLF), attended the opening ceremony of the 8th China-Africa Youth Festival. 

The event, co-hosted by China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the CSCLF, and the Zhejiang provincial government, attracted 64 young representatives from 52 African member countries of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). 

In her speech, Li noted that China is advancing the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation through the Chinese path to modernization, which benefits both the country and the world. On the path to modernization, China will join hands with African countries and support each other in the common pursuit of a brighter future. 

Noting that China and Africa are brothers who stand by each other through thick and thin, she said that the festival will help promote unity, mutual trust, and traditional friendship among Chinese and African youth, enhance people-to-people connections, and strengthen China-Africa ties for modernization. 

The festival is a project based on the consensus reached at the 2015 Johannesburg Summit of the FOCAC, aiming to promote youth exchanges and friendship between China and Africa. Since 2016, it has been held seven times, playing a significant role in deepening mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese and African youth. This year's event took place from May 19 to 26 in Beijing and Jinhua, East China's Zhejiang province.