Excellences,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen

It is indeed my great pleasure to make a few opening remarks and express gratitude to all those who made this event a reality. I wish to take this opportunity to thank the team of the African Union Commission through its Department of Economic Affairs and the China Academy of Social Sciences through their China Africa Institute for their initiative and leadership in engaging and coordinating efforts with AU Member States, International Organizations, Think thanks, academicians and other relevant stakeholders to discuss the promotion of sustainable development on the continent.

The two day conference will be dedicated to discussing thematic areas of great relevance to the African Continent and its development plan, Agenda 2063. Critical game changing issues will be addressed including scheming conducive and relevant policies to ensure a stable macro and microeconomic environment; explore opportunities offered with the operationalization of the AfCTA; reinforce international cooperation with partners such as China for the promotion of greater economic prosperity for the Continent through joint partnership platforms such as FOCAC and Infrastructure projects such as the Road and Belt Initiatives.

Excellences Ladies and gentlemen

Through this conference, it is my hope that vivid and interactive discussions will be held focusing on flagship Agenda 2063 projects of the African Union Commission and resulting in concrete recommendations for the reinforcement of partnership areas between Africa and China in the fields of economic and social sciences research; skills development; digitalization; industrial development, financial management; trade opportunities; energy, infrastructure, agriculture and urbanization development; all engines of growth and sustainable development, in line with Africa’s Agenda 2063 vision for “The Africa we Want”.

Excellences, Ladies and gentlemen

The African Union to supporting Member States are committed to transform their economies in ways which will enable all actors to benefit and participate in the development of the continent. In cooperation with China, we need to invest in youth by equipping them with education, training and skills, prerequisites to empower youth and women and help them transform themselves to skilled workers or entrepreneurs. In this way, Africa will be able to address the challenges of migration and reduce poverty. I therefore invite Chinese partners to massively invest in Africa and support the dynamic of Africa’s structural transformation preferably through Foreign Direct Investment, investment in education, infrastructure, energy and agriculture projects; and economic and social science researches. These Investments should be done in partnership with Africa’s private sector to transform our natural resources locally in respect of natural laws and environment.

Africa’s partnership with China should shift to an even stronger mutually beneficial partnership in the spirit of shared responsibilities, respect, mutual accountability and transparency in order to advance common interests on the international scene.

In concluding my remarks, I wish to express my profound gratitude to the organizers of the event and wish you much success in your discussions and deliberations during this Conference.