From July 25^th to August 7^th, the 16^th African Senior Diplomats Delegation co-sponsored by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs (CPIFA) paid a successful visit to Beijing, Guizhou and Fujian. The delegation consists of 27 delegates representing 22 African countries and 5 regional organizations.

       In Beijing, Mr. Liu Zhenmin, Assistant Minister of MFA, Amb. Cai Jinbiao, Vice-President of CPIFA, Amb. Liu Guijin, Chinese Special Envoy on African Affairs and Mr. Lu Shaye, Director General of Department of African Affairs of MFA met or hosted banquet with the delegation respectively. The delegation also called on to MOFCOM, China Development Bank, the State Council Leading Group Office of Poverty Alleviation and Development and the Institute of Contemporary China Studies, and visited Sinohydro Corporation, China Nonferrous Metal Mining Group and Huawei Technologies Corporation. During the stay in Guizhou and Fujian, the delegation exchanged views with the local officials and scholars on the building of the New Socialist Countryside, the application of new energy, development of coastal Special Economic Zone as well as relations across the Taiwan Straits.

       All delegates spoke highly of the visit. They said, they have gained more comprehensive understanding of China’s peaceful development, which is conducive to deepening China-Africa friendship. On one hand, they have learned a lot of development experience from China. On the other hand, they also have seen great potentials of China-Africa co-operation. They all believe that China-Africa relations would have an even brighter future.