TAIYUAN – In a significant diplomatic engagement, seven ambassadors from five African nations converged in Taiyuan for the “Lecture Tour by Ambassadors from African Countries · Shanxi 2025” event this Tuesday. This high-level forum served as a strategic platform to catalyze the high-quality development of Sino-African cooperation through concrete regional partnerships.
The proceedings revealed substantial alignment between Africa’s developmental objectives and Shanxi’s economic transformation agenda. Namibian representative Bertha Amakali articulated her nation’s 35-year independence journey, emphasizing priorities in poverty reduction, economic self-sufficiency, and emerging energy sector development. She specifically outlined potential Chinese collaboration in energy infrastructure investment, technical capacity building, and long-term enterprise partnerships.
Complementing these perspectives, Lu Xiangdong of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries observed that African development priorities resonate strongly with Shanxi’s ongoing industrial modernization efforts. He emphasized that enhanced cultural and people-to-people exchanges would fundamentally strengthen bilateral relations.
Economic data presented by Shanxi’s Department of Commerce Deputy Director Li Guorong demonstrated remarkable commercial momentum: provincial trade with Africa has surged from 5.25 billion yuan in 2020 to 11.17 billion yuan in 2024, achieving a 20.8% compound annual growth rate. The province has established commercial ties with over 50 African nations, with five countries individually exceeding 100 million yuan in trade volume.
Burkina Faso’s Ambassador Daouda Bitie characterized Shanxi as a pivotal hub in practical China-Africa cooperation, citing particularly successful collaborations in energy development and vocational training. Zimbabwe’s Ambassador Abigail Shoniwa expressed admiration for Shanxi’s green transition and industrial diversification through innovation, noting parallel cultural richness between her nation and the Chinese province.
The diplomatic delegation engaged in extensive field visits to Jinci Museum, Pingyao Ancient City, and several local enterprises, exploring synergistic opportunities in cultural tourism, green energy development, and technological exchange. According to Shanxi Foreign Affairs Office Director Dong Xiaolin, these exchanges form an integral component of the province’s broader internationalization strategy, which includes enhanced cultural understanding programs and exchange delegations.
The event was jointly hosted by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and Shanxi’s foreign affairs authorities, representing a concerted effort to deepen Sino-African relations through provincial-level diplomacy.