中非地方政府合作论坛 搭建务实交流平台

中非地方政府合作论坛 搭建务实交流平台

中非地方政府合作论坛（以下简称“论坛”）是中非合作论坛框架内成立的、旨在促进中非地方交流与合作的分论坛会议。论坛由中国人民对外友好协会（以下简称“全国友协”）主办，以落实“真、实、亲、诚”的对非外交理念为目标，致力于将中非合作成果惠及民众，夯实中非友好基础。

论坛机制由来与背景

2010年10月22日，“中非友好贡献奖——感动非洲的十大中国企业”官网在北京启动。（CFP）

2006年1月发布的《中国对非政策文件》和11月发布的《中非合作论坛北京行动计划（2007-2009年）》均表示，中国政府重视中非地方政府之间的交往，积极支持中非双方建立友好省州或友好城市，促进双方在地方发展管理方面的交流和合作。

受中央政府委托，全国友协负责协调管理我国同外国建立和发展友好城市关系的工作，推动中外地方和城市的交流与合作。结合中央对非政策精神和协会实际工作，全国友协于2006年将推动中非地方合作确定为对非工作重点。

为加快推动中非地方交流与合作，2006年至2012年，全国友协采取了一系列具体措施：

2006年底，改组成立中非友协第四届理事会，吸纳全国大多数省（自治区、直辖市、副省级城市）外办或友协领导成为理事，整合国内对非资源；

与非洲大多数国家的地方政府部和地方政府协会建立联系，并邀请数十位地方政府部长和省市长访华，巩固在非洲地方政府网络中的人脉基础；

组织近70位非洲驻华使节赴10多个省市巡回演讲，加深我国省市对非洲国家的认识与了解，增强其对中非地方合作的重视；

举办了3届“非洲友好城市官员研修班”、9届“中非地方政府合作研讨会”等小规模的交流活动，为将中非地方合作向更大范围和更深层次的机制化发展积累经验；

2012年8月27日，多年的积累化茧成蝶，首届中非地方政府合作论坛在北京成功举办。时任国务院副总理李克强出席开幕式并作重要讲话。中非双方1000余名地方代表通过了《北京宣言》，确定每两年举办一届论坛大会。时任国务委员戴秉国在论坛闭幕式的讲话中肯定了论坛机制。

2016年3月，第十七届非洲驻华大使巡讲活动在四川省成都市举行。

成为中非地方合作的重要平台

首届论坛大会于2012年8月27日在北京举行。时任国务院副总理李克强在开幕式讲话中表示，中方将积极推动中非友好城市快速发展，为非洲培训更多的地方各类人才，促进双方互派地方管理人员、企业家等各界人士到对方国家访问交流。论坛还发表了《首届中非地方政府合作论坛北京宣言》，签署了7项友好城市协议和近20个经贸协议。

第二届论坛大会于2015年11月10日在北京举行。中非地方官员、企业家等600名代表参加论坛会议。国务委员杨洁篪出席论坛开幕式并发表讲话，表示首届论坛召开以来开展的一系列交流活动促进了中非地方政府的务实合作和经贸交流，增添了中非关系的内涵，为中非关系的发展发挥了积极作用。与会代表围绕“加强地方能力建设，推动中非产业对接，实现省市包容发展”的主题进行了深入讨论。还举办了能源资源、基础设施和农业海洋经济等3个分论坛、一对一洽谈及陕西省对非合作推介会。论坛务实高效，得到与会者的一致好评。

在论坛框架下，全国友协在两届论坛大会之间组织了一系列活动，发挥论坛在中非地方合作中的平台作用。

论坛倡导的多边交流

2012年12月，全国友协会长李小林率中国地方政府代表团出席在塞内加尔举行的第六届非洲城市峰会，并在大会上发表演讲，呼吁加强中非地方合作。

2012年12月，首届中非省市长对话在塞内加尔首都达喀尔举行。来自我国7个省市和20多个非洲国家的约150名地方政府代表出席。双方在农业、矿产和投资等领域进行了深入交流。全国友协与塞内加尔地方政府领导人联合会签署合作协议。

2013年6月，第二届中非省市长对话在山东省举行。19个非洲法语区国家的首都市市长、省区长等地方官员、经贸界人士及非洲驻华使馆外交官等100名非方代表和200余名中方代表应邀参会。与会中非代表共签署18个友好城市及经贸合作协议。

2013年11月，中国—东共体国家省市长对话在乌干达首都坎帕拉举行。乌干达总统穆塞维尼、副总统塞坎迪、东共体五国地方政府部部长、省市长和企业家等近200人参会。山东、辽宁、陕西等省领导率团与非洲代表进行双边或多边交流20余次，签署了9项合作备忘录和意向书。

2015年5月，由肯尼亚楠迪郡、拉伊基匹亚郡及坦桑尼亚林迪省、滨海省、姆特瓦拉省、坦噶省等6位省（郡）长率领的东非省长代表团一行19人应全国友协邀请访华，并赴西安参加由全国友协和陕西省主办的“一带一路”地方领导人对话会。6位省（郡）长与与会代表一起签署了《“一带一路”地方领导人对话会西安声明》。通过此访，全国友协与肯尼亚郡长协会建立联系。

2015年12月，第三届中非省市长对话会在南非约翰内斯堡举行。全国友协副会长林怡，以及大连、南昌、景德镇、枣庄、柳州等中国省市代表，塞内加尔首都达喀尔市市长、南非约翰内斯堡市市长陶，布隆方丹市市长马尤尼，塞舌尔首都维多利亚市市长贝拉等十几个非洲省市的代表近百人出席会议。与会代表就如何促进中非省市合作开展深入交流。

论坛倡导的双边交流

2012年11月，中国—肯尼亚省市长对话暨经贸交流会在肯尼亚首都内罗毕举行。来自6个中国省（自治区、直辖市）和15个肯尼亚城市的官员和企业家出席。双方在水利灌溉、农业种植、友好城市关系等领域达成合作意向。全国友协与肯尼亚地方政府协会、北京温州企业商会与肯尼亚国家工商会分别签署战略合作协议。

2013年11月，首届中国—坦桑尼亚省市长对话在坦首都达累斯萨拉姆举行。坦总理平达、25位省长、企业家等400余人以及山东、辽宁和陕西3省副省长率领的地方政府代表团70余人与会。中坦双方达成多个合作意向，将跟进落实具体项目。坦总理平达称赞对话会对于加强两国友好合作关系具有里程碑意义。

2014年6月，第二届中坦省市长对话在辽宁省举行。辽宁省14个地市领导、企业家与坦21位省市长等400余人参加了对话会并达成多个合作意向。

2014年11月底、12月初，肯尼亚瓦森•吉术郡郡长曼达戈、蒙巴萨郡副郡长奥贡德、肯参议院多数党党鞭、参议员艾拉奇和肯中友协主席孟遥等联合率团访华。代表团参加由全国友协主办的“2014中国国际友好城市大会”，并分别在北京、西安和广州举行“肯尼亚经贸投资推介会”，与中国企业在建材、交通和矿产等领域实现合作。

自2007 年始，中非友好城市暨地方政府合作研讨会已分别在中国、肯尼亚、埃塞俄比亚、马里、贝宁、乌干达成功举办9届。

2016年4月，首届中国摩洛哥友谊论坛在摩洛哥首都拉巴特举行。全国友协副会长林怡，以及沈阳、上海、广州、吉林、浙江等省市代表，摩新闻大臣、高等教育大臣、拉巴特大区区长、拉巴特市市长等150余人出席了论坛。双方主要就推动友好城市交往事宜进行探讨。

2016年6月，全国友协邀请并接待由那瓦副主席率领的南非地方政府协会代表团访华。通过此访，双方加强了在促进中南地方交流与合作方面的共识。

2016年8月，全国友协邀请接待尼日利亚州长论坛代表团访华。代表团由尼州长论坛主席、赞法拉州州长阿卜杜•亚里率领，成员包括高原州州长、吉加瓦州州长、奥逊州州长、阿南布拉州州长、三角州州长、阿达马瓦州和包奇州代表以及论坛代理秘书长，代表了尼六大地缘政治区。通过此访，尼州长对全国友协友城和中非地方政府合作论坛工作有了更多了解，表达出与中方省市缔结友好关系的愿望。同时，也加强了友协与尼州长论坛两个机构之间的合作。

2016年6月，全国友协邀请并接待了马拉维市长代表团一行9人访华。代表团由马拉维地方政府部地方政府服务司司长达卡茂率领，成员包括利隆圭市市长和布兰太尔、松巴、姆祖祖3市副市长等。访华期间，利隆圭市表达了希与合肥市缔结友城的愿望。来访城市代表表达了加强与中国城市在城市规划、农业发展、基础设施建设、市政管理、城市治理与法制建设等方面交流与合作的愿望。

2016年9月，中尼地方政府经贸对话会在尼日利亚阿布贾举行。中非友协会长阿不来提•阿不都热西提、全国友协副会长林怡以及来自江西省、辽宁省、吉林省长春市、四川省巴中市和尼三角州、奥逊州、阿比亚州、伊莫州的地方政府官员及企业家共150余人出席了会议。双方就推动两国地方政府交流及经贸合作发表意见，就投资热点问题进行深入交流，并发表《中尼省市合作宣言》。

帮扶论坛搭建企业间合作

2013年3月，全国友协副会长冯佐库率团访问加蓬，推动论坛合作企业中国中交集团承接加蓬让蒂尔港和曼吉岛保税区项目。

2013年4月，论坛支持企业北京地豪矿业公司首赴加纳考察金矿开采项目。经过3年多努力，该公司与加纳国土资源部及地质调查局签署了覆盖上万平方公里的黄金与金刚石勘探开发协议。

论坛经验分享

学习中国对非政策文件（2006年）以领会国家对非政策精神，研究中非合作论坛北京峰会以厘清对非工作脉络，改组中非友协理事会、与非洲国家地方政府部和省市等开展互访以整合国内外人脉、信息等资源，组织友好城市官员研修班和地方政府合作研讨会等活动积累经验。通过各项举措，为论坛的成功召开打下坚实基础，为其机制化发展增强底蕴。

加强与企业界、学术界的互动。举办论坛面临的主要问题是资金短缺。多年来，全国友协通过组织各种活动，如中非友好贡献奖、高级别团组的接待和出访等，为企业搭建平台，与企业界建立了良好关系。两届论坛大会的大部分资金都来自企业赞助。

论坛发展中面临的另一个问题是智力短缺。要让活动更成功，解决中非省市的关切，必须借助外脑。所以我们在论坛框架下成立专家委员会，吸收政府、学术和经济等各界智囊精英近20人，为论坛活动提供智力支持。

注重研究中非省市的关切，以此为依据设计筹划各类活动。当前国内各省市希望在经贸领域加强与非洲省市之间的合作，尤其是推动优势产能进入非洲，而非方省市也希望能通过与中国省市之间的合作提高当地的工业化和农业现代化水平。有鉴于此，全国友协在论坛大会以及后续活动中，注意在活动内容中充分体现双方关切，以此来保证论坛机制化的有效运行。

2016年8月，“2016中非青年大联欢”在广州举行，进一步增进了中非青年友谊。

论坛的下一步发展

继续完善区域性省市长对话，组织分行业和领域的地方政府交流活动。继续搭建区域性省市长合作平台，如组织中国—非洲葡萄牙语国家省市长对话，中国-东南部非洲发展共同体省市长对话等。为使中非地方合作向更加务实的方向发展，计划组织分行业和领域的交流活动，如工业合作、农业现代化、技术人材培养、文化交流等。

加强中非省市在管理经验、优势产品和服务等方面的交流与推介。中非省市互有适合于对方发展的管理经验、优势产品和服务等，全国友协将以论坛为平台，结合中非省市已有的各类展会会议，组织城市管理研讨会、优势产品和服务推介会等，使中非地方政府之间的合作更加密切和务实。

建立一个泛中国大部分省（自治区、直辖市）和非洲大多数国家的地方交流互联网体系。通过这个体系，中非各省市可以缩短沟通时间，减少沟通成本，提高沟通效率。作为第一步，全国友协希望与国内各省市先建立一个即时联系网络。由全国友协和各省（自治区、直辖市）外办或友协指定中非地方合作联络员，借助即时通讯软件和电子邮件等技术手段，即时发布各类合作信息、意见、建议等，形成一个更为紧密、高效的横向和纵向联系网络。

（全国友协亚非工作部供稿、供图）

Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation (hereinafter referred to as Forum) is a sub-forum within the framework of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, aiming at the promotion of exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa local governments. Organized by the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (hereinafter referred to as CPAFFC), the forum strives for developing relations with Africa with sincerity, real results, affi nity and good faith, devotes to benefiting the people with the achievements made by the China-Africa cooperation, and consolidates the basis of China-Africa friendship.

The Origin and Background of the Forum

China’s African Policy Paper released in January of 2006 and Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2007-2009) in November of the same year both shows that China's government attaches importance to the exchanges between local governments of China and African countries, vigorously supports twin province/state and twin city relationship aimed at facilitating bilateral exchanges and cooperation in local development and administration.

Entrusted by the government, CPAFFC is in charge of coordinating and overseeing the work of establishing and developing friendship-city relations between China and other countries and promoting exchanges and cooperation between their localities and cities. Based on the principles of central government’s African policies and practical work of association, CPAFFC takes the promotion of China-Africa local cooperation as the focus of work toward Africa in 2006.

A series of work have been made by CPAFFC between 2006 and 2012 to facilitate the China-Africa local exchanges and cooperation:

Reorganized and established the 4th Council of Chinese-African People's Friendship Association at the end of 2006, which invited the leaders of Foreign Affairs Offi ces or Friendship Associations in most of provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities, subprovincial cities) as members to integrate the domestic resources relating to Africa.

Established relationship with local governments and associations in most African countries and invited dozens of ministers and administrators of the local government to visit China, which consolidated the connection network in the Africa local governments.

Organized 70 African diplomats in China to deliver speeches in more than ten provinces and cities, which deepened Chinese local governments’ understanding of African countries and attached their more importance to the China-Africa local cooperation.

Organized small-scale activities like the 3rd Seminar for Offi cials from Friendship Cities of African Countries, the 9th Seminar on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation, etc., in order to accumulate experiences for a wider and deeper mechanism development in China-Africa local cooperation.

In August 2016, 2016 China-Africa Youth Party was held in Guangzhou. Image from: Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC)

On August 27, 2012, as the result of efforts in the past few years, the 1st Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation was successfully held in Beijing. Li Keqiang, then vice premier of State Council, attended the opening ceremony and deliveredkey speeches. More than 1,000 local representatives from both China and Africa approved the Beijing Declaration, which stipulates the biennial sessions of the forum. Dai Bingguo, then State Councilor, affirmed the forum mechanism in his closing ceremony speech.

Become an important platform for China-Africa local cooperation

The 1st Forum was held in Beijing on August 27, 2012. Li Keqiang, then vice premier of State Council, revealed in his opening ceremony speech that China will work to accelerate the development of China-Africa sister cities and train more professionals for Africa. China will promote the exchange between local managerial staff, entrepreneurs and people from various sectors from each side to enhance mutual learning. The forum also reveals the Beijing Declaration of the 1st Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation. 7 friendship cities agreements and 20 economic and trade agreement were signed during the forum.

The 2nd Forum was held in Beijing on November 10, 2015. 600 local officials and entrepreneurs from China and Africa attended the forum. Yang Jiechi, the State Councilor, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech. He said that a series of exchange activities held since the 1st forum have resulted more pragmatic cooperation and economic and trade exchanges, and also brought substantial contents into the development of the China-Africa relationship. Participants had in-depth discussions on topics like local capacity building, China-Africa industrial cooperation, as well as inclusive growth in provinces and cities. Activities like three sub-forums, which focus on energy resources, infrastructures and agricultural and oceanic economy respectively, one-on-one discussing meeting, along with promotion meeting on Shannxi-Africa cooperation have been held. The forum has been highly appreciated by all participants.

Within the framework of the forum, CPAFFC have fulfi lled its role in providing platforms for the China-Africa local cooperation by organizing a series of activities between two forums.

Multilateral Communication

In December, 2012, President Li Xiaolin, heading a delegation of representatives from local governments, attended the 6th Africities Summit in Dakar, and delivered a speech at the summit appealing for a stronger China-Africa local cooperation.

In December, 2012, the 1st Dialogue for Chinese and African Governors and Mayors was held in Dakar, the capital city of Senegal. 150 representatives from 7 China’s provinces and over 20 African countries attended the Dialogue. Both sides have an in-depth communication over areas like agriculture, minerals and investment. CPAFFC has singed cooperation agreement with Senegal Local Government Leaders Union.

In June, 2013, the 2nd Dialogue for Chinese and African Governors and Mayors was held in Shandong Province. 100 African representatives including local offi cials such as mayors and governors of the capital cities, provinces and prefectures from 19 French-speaking African countries, fi gures in economy and trade circles, diplomats of Embassies of African countries in China, together with over 200 representatives from China were invited to the Dialogue. 18 agreements on friendship cities and economy and trade cooperation were signed by both representatives.

In November, 2013, Dialogue of Mayors and Governors of China and East African Community(EAC) was held in Kampala, the capital city of Uganda. H.E. Mr. Yoweri Museveni, President of Uganda, Mr. Edward Sekandi, Vice President of Uganda, the Ministers of Local Government from EAC countries and the mayors and businessmen from China and EAC, totaling about 200 guests, attended the Dialogue. Headed by the leaders from provinces like Shandong, Liaoning, and Shannxi, the delegations conducted multilateral or bilateral communications with African representatives over 20 times, and signed 9 memorandums and letters of intents for cooperation.

In May, 2015, 19 representatives of the East African Governors Delegation, headed by the governors of Nandi County, Laikipia County in Kenya and Lindi Region, Pwani Region, Mtwara Region and Tanga Region in Tanzania, were invited to visit China and went to Xi’an for The Belt and Road Local Leaders’Dialogue held by CPAFFC and Shaanxi Province. Six governors has signed The Belt and Road Local Leaders’s Dialogue: Xi’an Declaration together with the representatives attended. Through the visit, CPAFFC established connections with the Council of Governors Kenya.

In December, 2015, the 3rd China-Africa Mayors Dialogue was held in Johannesburg, South Africa. Hundreds of representatives attended the Dialogue, including Lin Yi, vice president of CPAFFC, the China’s local representatives from Dalian, Nanchang, Jingdezhen, Zaozhuang, Liuzhou, etc., Mayor of Dakar (the capital city of Senegal), Mr. Parks Tau, Mayor of Johannesburg, Mr. Thabo Manyoni, Mayor of Bloemfontein, Ms. Jacqueline Belle, Mayor of Victoria (capital city of Seychelles), as well as local government representatives from dozens of African countries. The representatives attended had an indepth communication over the approaches for China-Africacooperation.

Bilateral Communication

In November, 2012, China-Kenya Mayors Dialogue and Economic and Trade Cooperation Conference were held in Nairobi, the capital city of Kenya. Officials and businessmen from 6 Chinese provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) and 15 Kenyan cities attended. Both sides have reached intents of cooperation over areas like irrigation, farming, and friendship cities relationship. CPAFFC and Wenzhou Enterprises Chamber of Commerce in Beijing have signed strategic cooperation agreement with Association of Local Governments Authorities of Kenya and Kenya National Chamber of Commerce and Industry respectively.

In November, 2013, the 1st China-Tanzania Mayors Dialogue was held in Dar es Salaam, the capital city of Tanzania. 400 representatives from Tanzania, including Mizengo Pinda, the Prime Minister of Tanzania, 25 governors and businessman, and a local government delegation of 70 representatives led by Vice Governors from Shandong, Liaoning and Shannxi Province. Both sides reached intents over multiple areas, and specific projects would follow up. Prime Minister Pinda thought highly of the Dialogue, saying it is a milestone for the strengthening of bilateral cooperation.

In June, 2014, the 2nd China-Tanzania Mayors Dialogue was held in Liaoning Province. Leaders and businessmen from 14 cities of Liaoning Province and 21 governors of Tanzania, totaling about 400 representatives, attended the Dialogue. Intents of cooperation over multiple areas have been reached.

At the end of November and the beginning of December, 2014, a delegation led by Jackson Mandago, governor of Uasin Gishu county, Hazel Ezabel Nyamoki Ogunde, the deputy governor of Mombasa County, Beatrice Elachi, Whip of the Majority Party and Senator, and Michael Munyao, Chairman of Kenya - China Friendship Association visited China. The delegation attended China International Friendship Conference 2014 hosted by CPAFFC and Kenya Economic and Trade Investment Meeting held in Beijing, Xi’an and Guangzhou, where they established cooperation with Chinese enterprises on building materials, transportation and mineral industry.

In April, 2016, the 1st China-Morocco Friendship Forum was held in Rabat, the capital city of Morocco. Lin Yi, Vice President of CPAFFC, led a delegation of representatives from provinces and cities like Shenyang, Shanghai, Guangzhou, Jilin, Zhejiang, etc., to attend the forum. Representatives from Morocco include Minister of Communication and Spokesman of the government, Minister of Higher Education, Scientifi c Research and Training, Governor of Rabat-Salé-Kenitra Region, Mayor of Rabat city, and so on. About 150 participants from China and Morocco held discussions on promoting friendship city relationship during the forum.

In June, 2016, CPAFFC invited the delegation of South Africa Local Government Association headed by its Vice Chairman Cllr. Kebitsamang Mpho Nawa to visit China. Through the visit, both sides reached agreements on the further strengthening of China-South Africa local exchange and cooperation.

In August, 2016, CPAFFC invited the delegation of the Nigerian Governors’ Forum(NGF), headed by H.E. Mr. Abudul Yari, the NGF Chairman and Governor of Zamfara State, to visit China. The delegation also consists of governors of Plateau State, Jigawa State, Osun State, Anambra State, Delta State, Adamawa State, Bauchi State, as well as NGF Acting Director General, which represented the six geo-political regions of Nigeria. Through the visit, the governors of Nigeria furthered their understanding of work done by CPAFFC and Forum on China-Africa Local Government Cooperation, and showed their wills of establishing friendship with China’s provinces and cities. Furthermore, the visit also enhanced the cooperation between CPAFFC and NGF.

In June, 2016, CPAFFC invited the 9-member Malawian Mayors’ Delegation to visit China. The delegation was led by Mr. Kiswell Dakamau, Director of Local Government Service of the Malawian Ministry of Local Government and Rural Development. The delegation includes Mayor of Lilongwe, Deputy Mayor of Blantyre, Deputy Mayor of Zomba and Deputy Mayor of Mzuzu, etc. During the visit, the Mayor of Lilongwe showed his will of establishing friendship cities with Hefei. The representatives from the visiting cities expressed their expectation to exchange and cooperate with China’s cities over areas like urban planning, agriculture, infrastructure construction, municipal administration, urban governance, legal construction, and so on.

In September, 2016, Nigeria-China Local Government and Business Dialogue was held in Abuja, Nigeria. H.E. Mr. Abdul’ahat Abdurixit, President of the the Chinese-African People’s Friendship Association, Mrs. Lin Yi, the Vice President of CPAFFC, local government officials and businessmen from Jiangxi Province, Liaoning Province, Changchun city of Jilin Province, Bazhong City of Sichuan Province and Delta State, Osun State, Abia State and Imo State of Nigeria, totaling over 150 participants attended the dialogue. Both sides exchanged views on promoting bilateral local government communication and business cooperation, held in-depth discussion on investment hotspot issues, and released the Declaration on Cooperation by Nigeria-China States and Cities.

Assisting the Cooperative Enterprises of Forum

In March, 2013, Mr. Feng Zuoku, the Vice President of CPAFFC, led a delegation to visit The Republic of Gabon to facilitate the project of Mandji Tax Free Zone in Port Gentil City, which is undertaken by China Communications Construction Company Limited, a cooperative enterprise of Forum.

In April, 2013, Beijing Dihao Holding, a supportive enterprise of Forum, conducted their fi rst visit to Ghana to investigate the gold mining projects. With the efforts for over three years, exploration and development deals of gold and diamond mines covering an area of one thousand square kilometers have been signed with Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources of Ghana and the Ghana Geological Survey Department.

Experience Sharing

To learn China’s African Policy Paper(2006) to understand nation’s policy toward Africa; to study on the Beijing Summit of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to get a clear idea of work toward Africa; to reorganize the Council of Chinese-African People's Friendship Association; to integrate resources like connection and information both abroad and at home by mutual visiting at ministerial and provincial level between China and Africa; to accumulate experiences through seminars attended by offi cials from friendship cities and focusing on local government cooperation. These various approaches will finally lay a solid foundation for a successful forum and bring more to the development of forum mechanism.

To increase interaction with business and academic circles. For years, CFAPPA has hosted various activities, such as China-Africa Friendship Award, the reception and sending of highlevel delegations, to build platform for the enterprises. Therefore, CFAPPA gets along with the business circle, and two forums are largely sponsored by the enterprises.

Another challenge getting in the way of the development of forum is the lack of intellectual support. It is inevitable to be with the help of “another brain” – the outside intellectual resources for a more successful forum and dealing with the concerns from provinces and cities in China and Africa. Therefore, a committee of experts, which includes nearly 20 intellectuals and elites from government, academy and business world, is established within the forum to provide intellectual support for the forum.

To pay attention to the concerns from provinces and cities in China and Africa, based on which various activities are planned. It is the hope of the provinces and cities at home for a stronger economic and trade cooperation with the African counterparts and more accesses for their advantageous productivity into the Africa. On the contrary, it is also the wish of the provinces and cities in Africa for the cooperation with their Chinese counterparts to level up their industrialization and agricultural modernization. To this end, CPAFFC will take care of the concerns from both sides in the planning of the forum and activities that follow, which is helpful for an effective forum mechanism.

Future Work of the Forum

To continue the improvement of regional governors dialogue and organize communication activities for local governments according to industries and fields.To continue the building of platform for cooperation between regional mayors and governors, such as China and Portuguese-speaking African Countries Governors Dialogue, China and Southwestern African Development Community Governors Dialogue, etc.For a more pragmatic development of China-Africa local cooperation, communication activities are organized according to industries and fields, for example, industrial cooperation, agricultural modernization, technical personnel training, cultural exchange, etc.

To strengthen the exchanges and promotion of China and African provinces and cities over management experiences, advantageous products and services, etc.Provinces and cities in China and Africa both boost management experiences, advantageous products and services, etc., which are benefi cial for each other’s development. Therefore, combining with the existing conventions and taking the forum as the platform, CPAFFC plans to host seminars on management experiences, advantageous products and services, etc. to further the cooperation between China and Africa local government.

To establish an Internet network for local communication between most of China’s provinces (autonomous regions, municipalities) and African countries.Through the network, provinces and cities in China and Africa can achieve less time and cost but higher effi ciency in communication with each other. As the first step in building the network, CPAFFC hopes to work with provinces and cities at home to establish an instant communication network. Via technologies like instant messaging software or e-mails, CPAFFC, provincial Foreign Affairs Offi ces or liaisons of China-Africa Local Cooperation designated by CPAFFC can release cooperation information, suggestions and recommendations here and now. And this can contribute to a highly-interlinked and more effective communication network horizontally and vertically.

（Provided by Department of Asian & African Affairs of the Chinese People’s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries）

Forum on Sino--African Local Government Cooperation Builds a Pragmatic Platform for Exchanges