Xi Jinping, General Secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) once said, "China-Africa ties have not grown overnight, nor is it a gift from someone else, but have been forged and sealed in adversity, built on one concrete step after another."

Facing challenges brought by the sudden COVID-19 outbreak, China and Africa have offered mutual support, fought shoulder to shoulder with each other, jointly held the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19, setting a new benchmark in the international cooperation against COVID-19. Facing a new era, how to inherit and pass on the China-Africa friendship among the young generations of both sides? Let's listen to what some young leaders from African political parties say.

China-Africa friendship in the eyes of African Young Leaders

Ramadane Carlos José, Secretary of the Discipline and Supervision Committee of the Youth Organization of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO), said that Africa-China cooperation has been expanded from the political and economic fields to all aspects including the cultural front and people's daily life. If you take a walk in Mozambique, the presence of Africa-China friendship can be felt everywhere. 

António da Brito, Member of the Central Committee of the African Party for the Independence of Cape Verde (PAICV), said that Africa and China have always upheld the principle of mutual respect, complete equality, fairness and justice in cooperation, and have jointly safeguarded the development interests of developing countries. 

China is an important market for African exports and a major source of imports and development resources for African countries. China has assisted Africa in talents cultivation, knowledge sharing and technology transfer, and has become preferred cooperation partner in Africa's digital economy development. The two sides also enjoy fruitful cooperation in fields such as public health, agriculture, and poverty reduction.

Maiquel dos Santos, member of the Politburo of the Movement for the Liberation of Sao Tome and Principe/Social Democratic Party (MLSTP-PSD), said that bilateral cooperation is being continuously transformed and upgraded and Chinese companies are stepping up their investments in Africa, contributing to the self-led development of the continent. 

In the post-COVID-19 era, global issues and challenges will be more daunting. This requires countries to join forces and necessitates the building of a community with a shared future for Africa and China.

Young generations passing on the baton of China-Africa friendship 

Masonwabe Sokoyi, the 2nd Deputy Secretary of the Communist Party of South Africa (SACP) in Western Cape said that young generations should take history as a mirror to fully understand that those who oppressed us can never be our friends, but only those who were there with us during the difficult times such as the people of China. China is Africa's largest development partner, and it is our incumbent responsibility to further the development of the Africa-China friendship.

As young leaders, we are encouraged and happy with the China-Africa friendship which is anchored based on mutual beneficiation as well as the approach of President Xi Jinping on Africa and his visions on Africa-China friendship focusing on development through the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation (FOCAC). It's most important that we shall do everything possible to support the current efforts by FOCAC.

Maiquel dos Santos added that, in the era of information technology, African and Chinese youth should take full advantage of modern technologies and communication tools, adhere to the principle of mutual respect, strengthen mutual exchanges and draw experience from each other in order to jointly carry forward the traditional friendship forged by both sides.

Africa encouraged by China's fight against COVID-19

Sokoyi said that the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19 jointly initiated by China, South Africa in its capacity as the Chair of the African Union and Senegal in its capacity as the Co-Chair of FOCAC was indeed a motivation to African countries.

Maiquel dos Santos said that since the outbreak, China has promptly mobilized the government, enterprises, social organizations and other forces to send medical teams to Africa, provide Africa with anti-epidemic materials and share experience in COVID-19 prevention and control. Africans are sincerely grateful. The best way to win the world's support is mutual assistance and friendly cooperation.

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