By Fatou Sillah
Jinhua, located in Zhejiang Province in the south of the Yangtze River Delta on China’s southeastern coast, borders the East China Sea to the east. It is one of the richest and most developed provinces in China.
The province recently welcomed 64 African youth to celebrate the China-Africa Youth Festival. The event aims to showcase the city’s economic, tourist, and cultural offerings through a series of discovery visits, cultural exchanges, and knowledge-sharing activities.
During the welcome ceremony, Zhu Chonglie, Secretary of the Chinese Communist Party Municipal Committee in Jinhua, emphasized the significant role of youth in China-Africa cooperation. He highlighted the growing trade between Jinhua and Africa.
Chen Jiangfeng, Deputy Director General of the Foreign Affairs Department of Zhejiang, reiterated Jinhua’s commitment to African partnerships.
The Minister Counsellor of the Department of African Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs praised Jinhua’s crucial role in China’s trade relations with Africa, noting the substantial bilateral trade between the two regions.
During their stay in Jinhua, participants visited various places and engaged in numerous cultural activities. These included a visit to Leap Motors, where they witnessed the integration of advanced manufacturing techniques and automation.
The participants also visited the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University, the People’s Livelihood Conference Hall of the CPPCC, and Hengdian World Studios, among other locations.
The festival facilitated numerous interactions between participants from various African countries and China, including exchanges in art, music, and traditional practices. These interactions helped preserve and promote cultural heritage in both regions.