China says it is ready to work with Africa to oppose hegemonism, unilateralism, and protectionism while advancing the collective rights of the Global South.
Xue Bing, China’s Special Envoy for Horn of Africa Affairs, made this known during a seminar hosted by China Foreign Affairs University (CFAU) in Beijing.
The seminar, under the theme ‘Building China-Africa Community with a Shared Future,’ included African diplomats in China and a delegation of heads of African diplomatic academies.
Xue stressed the role of young diplomats in shaping a shared future, describing China-Africa friendship as a towering tree supporting generations of dreamers in diplomacy.
He noted that China and Africa, as key parts of the Global South, must cooperate to resolve development challenges and reduce the global development gap.
Xue advocated for an equal and orderly multipolar world rooted in international rules, jointly upheld by China and Africa under the UN charter.
He urged both regions to remain committed to multilateralism and promote an international system that reflects equity, fairness, and mutual respect.
With global uncertainty rising, Xue called for true multilateralism and a just global governance system to address the world’s shared challenges.
He said the world faces a critical juncture, with urgent questions about how to build a better, fairer international order.
According to Xue, hegemony enforced through threats or tariffs harms legitimate interests, violates WTO rules, and weakens the multilateral trading system.
Amb. Wang Shihting, CPC Committee Secretary of CFAU, urged nations to draw lessons from World War II and promote global justice and peace.
Wang said 2025, marking 80 years since WWII’s end, is a time to reflect and support fairness and peace in global affairs.
He said China’s initiatives — such as the Belt and Road and the global development plan — offer solutions for collective global progress.
Wang referenced the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit, highlighting shared goals between China and Africa.
These goals include modernisation and building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.
He said CFAU plays a key role, being the only university directly under China’s Foreign Affairs Ministry and part of the “Double First-Class” initiative.
Founded in 1955, CFAU trains top-tier diplomatic talents with multidisciplinary expertise to serve China’s foreign service and international engagement.
Wang noted CFAU has partnerships with 182 universities in 73 countries and hopes to expand links with African institutions.
He stressed that amid complex global tensions, young diplomats must play a key role in supporting peace and sustainable development.
Amb. Vuyelwa Maud Dlomo of South Africa praised CFAU for hosting the China-Africa diplomatic academy forum as part of WWII anniversary events.
She emphasised the need to prioritise solidarity, equality, and sustainability in building a fairer global system.
Dlomo said these values are essential to overcoming barriers that hinder the Global South’s development and progress.
She stated that Africa and China are vital partners in creating a shared, prosperous future for all nations.
Global challenges, she noted, demand cooperation, as success is never achieved in isolation.
To this end, she urged strong support for multilateralism and global governance institutions as pillars of global peace and prosperity.
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