Story Jonathan Marerwa in Beijing, China
THE African diaspora in China has been called upon to foster unity, empower themselves and help in building bridges between Africa and China.
This came up during the official launch of the Africa-China Diaspora Alliance, (AFRICDA), in Beijing this Saturday.
Co-founder of AFRICDA and also head of communications at the Ghana Embassy in China, Abdul Ganiyu Alhassan, said the alliance’s core belief is that struggles faced by Africans in the diaspora are the same and therefore there is need to have unity of purpose.
Mr Alhassan disclosed that the formation of the alliance is meant to empower the African diaspora and facilitate collaboration while focusing on sustainable development, trade enhancement and innovation.
He revealed that the platform creates opportunities for joint ventures, investment and knowledge exchange across multiple sectors which include agriculture, green energy, education and technology.
Mr Alhassan noted that AFRICDA’s broader goals to empower local businesses and build capacity within the African diaspora so sad to drive impactful change across both blocs.
He applauded the historical relationships between Africa and China which dates back to the 1950s which he said laid the foundation for the thriving partnerships that are evident today.
China is now Africa’s largest bilateral trading partner and AFRICDA seeks to deepen these ties by not only promoting economic growth but also encouraging cultural exchange and fostering mutually beneficial partnerships.
The alliance ‘s initiatives are in alignment with China’s Belt and Road Initiative and Africa’s Agenda 2063 both of which emphasize infrastructure connectivity and socio-economic development.
Speeches by African ambassadors, Chinese business leaders and other key stakeholders underscored the importance of mutual understanding and collaboration.
Most speakers described AFRICDA as a milestone in Africa-China relations since the alliance’s mission is to expand co-operation beyond traditional state led frameworks and also foster deeper people to people connections between Africa and China.
