Dozens of civil servants from different African countries communicated with Chinese professors, former diplomats and reporters in a seminar on governance and Sino-African ties in Beijing on Monday.

Co-organized by the Institute of International Studies and Advanced Training of China International Communications Group, the School of International Studies and the School of Global and Area Studies of the Renmin University of China, the event aims to deepen mutual understanding of the two sides on issues of common interest and concerning Sino-African cooperation and exchanges.

The participants discussed a wide range of topics related to the connotation of Chinese-style modernization and China's experience in governing the country, the Belt and Road Initiative, and the challenges and opportunities China and Africa are presented with in their pursuit of common development.

They agreed that as important members of the Global South, China and Africa should further strengthen solidarity and cooperation, jointly respond to global challenges and world issues, seek common interests and goals, and promote the construction of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future.

Han Liqiang, deputy director of the CICG Institute of International Studies and Advanced Training, and Wang Yiwei, deputy director of the Academy of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era of the RUC, presented the newly published Xi Jinping: The Governance of China (fourth volume) to the African participants as a gift at the end of the seminar.

"China's institutional advantages, production technology capabilities and outstanding achievements in various fields such as industry and science and technology have laid a solid foundation for the construction of the China-Africa community with a shared future," said Wang. "The concepts of sincere friendship, equal respect, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation embodied therein are the key for China and Africa to move forward side by side and work together toward modernization."

Long Xiaonong, a professor of communication studies with the Communication University of China, said the Global Civilization Initiative is the latest theoretical achievement of China's global civilization view, and a vivid embodiment of the value connotation of the civilization view of "equality, mutual learning, dialogue and tolerance".

In his speech, Long corrected and surpassed the existing Western international communication theory from the perspective of logic and narrative, and provided a new world view and methodology for promoting the reform of international communication theory and innovating the art of cross-cultural communication.

Song Wei, a professor of international relations of the RUC, said that China's traditional culture of "harmonious coexistence", long-term strategic vision and principle of non-interference in other countries' internal affairs are the inherent advantages of building the Belt and Road and the China-Africa community with a shared future.

China-Africa cooperation will continue to deepen high-quality cooperation on more “small-and-beautiful” cooperation projects that will bring more tangible benefits to more ordinary people, Song added.

The African attendees, who come from Zimbabwe, Kenya, Rwanda, South Sudan and Uganda, spoke highly of China’s long-term assistance to their countries' development, and its noninterference of their internal affairs.

They are keen on learning from China's development experience, wisdom and models and adapting them to their respective national conditions. Also they are fully conscious of the necessity of avoiding problems China has encountered in its development in the process.

Mohamed Hadi Abasi, ICT officer and spokesperson of the Country Government of Mombasa, emphasized that China and Kenya have long-standing friendly relations, and the Belt and Road Initiative is a catalyst for promoting cooperation and development, hoping that the Belt and Road Initiative can help promote stable and sustainable prosperity and development in Kenya.

Sarah Adong, an official with local education department of Kumi, Uganda, pointed out that China's modernization and governance experience are of great reference value to Africa.

"During this trip, I felt the charm of Chinese ideas and the Chinese path from China's traditional culture and development achievements, and personally experienced the Chinese people's equal respect and friendly treatment of African people," Adong added.

Ronald Agaba, spokesperson of the parliament of Uganda, stressed that African countries have their own development realities and needs. "We hope to maintain the principles of mutual respect and non-interference in internal affairs and help each country explore a development path that suits them," he added.

Pardon Mirisi, a civil servant with the Zimbabwe government, appreciated that China has helped his country overcome difficulties on different occasions, and urged the younger generations of the two countries to carry on that tradition.

The African speakers said that the face-to-face exchanges with the Chinese side consolidated their confidence that China-Africa cooperation will move toward a brighter future, and are of inspiring significance for the high-quality joint construction of the Belt and Road and promoting the building of an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.