On December 9, 2025, the Promotion Event for the Lecture Tour by Ambassadors from African Countries · Shanxi 2025 was successfully held in Taiyuan. Lu Xiangdong, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC); Dong Xiaolin, Director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Shanxi Province; and Li Guorong, Deputy Director of the Department of Commerce of Shanxi Province, attended the event and delivered remarks. Ambassadors from five African countries in China—Daouda Bitie, Ambassador of Burkina Faso to China; Abigail Shoniwa, Ambassador of Zimbabwe to China; and Misenga Mpuka Mamissa, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in China, along with other ambassadors, introduced their respective countries. Counsellor Zhan Xiaobo from the Department of African Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China gave a policy briefing on China-Africa cooperation. Nearly 200 representatives from the Department of Culture and Tourism of Shanxi Province, State-owned Assets Supervision and Administration Commission, China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, Federation of Industry and Commerce, universities, enterprises and the media attended the event.
(Vice President Lu Xiangdong delivers remarks)
In his remarks, Vice President Lu Xiangdong emphasized that China and Africa are close friends, sharing a bond of mutual support and a shared destiny. Subnational cooperation is the vital force that sustains China-Africa relations. This event has provided a platform for information sharing and bilateral exchanges in subnational cooperation between China and Africa. The development needs of African countries align closely with Shanxi's industrial transformation, and the cooperation between the two sides has significant advantages and promising prospects. Strengthening friendly exchanges will inject new momentum into China-Africa relations.
Vice President Lu Xiangdong also highlighted that the Fourth Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee has outlined an ambitious blueprint for China's economic and social development over the next five years. China will firmly promote high-quality development, expand high-level opening-up, and share opportunities for common development with countries in the Global South, including African countries, creating a new framework for win-win cooperation. The CPAFFC is committed to assisting subnational governments in China and Africa in strengthening practical cooperation, promoting people-to-people connectivity, and advancing China-Africa relations to new heights.
(Left: Daouda Bitie, Ambassador of Burkina Faso to China, makes introduction of the country; Middle: Abigail Shoniwa, Ambassador of Zimbabwe to China, makes introduction; Right: Misenga Mpuka Mamissa, Chargé d'Affaires of the Embassy of the Democratic Republic of the Congo in China, makes introduction.)
Ambassadors from Burkina Faso, Zimbabwe, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Namibia, and the Central African Republic expressed their gratitude for China's long-standing selfless support for Africa's economic and social development. They introduced their countries' national conditions, industrial advantages, investment environment, and cooperation opportunities with China, focusing on investment projects in infrastructure construction, agriculture, energy, and green development. The ambassadors unanimously agreed that China-Africa cooperation is a model for new international relations and South-South cooperation. They expressed their commitment to further expanding exchanges with Shanxi Province and other provinces and cities in China, strengthening economic and trade relations and cultural exchanges, and increasing the number of friendly cities, ensuring that the fruits of China-Africa cooperation better benefit the people of both sides.
(Top left: Bertha Amakali, Minister-Counselor of the Embassy of Namibia to China, introduces her country; Top right: Charles Lasserre Yakite, Economic Counselor of the Embassy of the Central African Republic to China, introduces his country; Bottom: Event venue.
On December 8, 2025, Zhu Xiaodong, Vice Governor of Shanxi Province, met with the African diplomatic delegation in Taiyuan. During their visit to Shanxi, the delegation also visited local enterprises in green energy, modern agriculture, food processing, and infrastructure construction, and toured historical and cultural landmarks.
The Lecture Tour by Ambassadors from African Countries is an important platform created by the CPAFFC to promote practical cooperation between domestic provinces and African countries. It aims to help subnational governments and enterprises understand Africa and foster subnational exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa. Since its inception in 2008, the program has brought African ambassadors to more than 20 provinces and cities across China. This year's lecture tour was organized by the Foreign Affairs Office of the People's Government of Shanxi Province and the Shanxi Provincial People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries.
