China: China says it has upgraded the China-Africa Economic and Trade Forum and the China-Africa Cultural Cooperation and Exchange Month to the China-Africa Economic and Trade Forum within the framework of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum. Zhang Yangbin, Deputy Secretary-General of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, announced this during the opening ceremony of the 2024 China-Africa Economic, Trade, and Cultural Forum in Jinhua, Zhejiang Province. According to News Agency of Nigeria, the forum, themed 'Exchanges and Mutual Learning, People-to-People Bond and Win-Win Cooperation,' attracted 400 guests from 40 countries and regions. It aims to deepen the traditional friendship between China and Africa and expand their cooperation on the path to modernization. Zhang noted that the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation laid the foundation for drawing a new blueprint for future cooperation between the two regions. Zhang highlighted that the upgraded forum is expected to further cement friendships and create opportunities for collaboration, urging participants to provide insights into promoting modernization jointly. He emphasized the readiness of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries to build bridges and bonds to enhance the emotional and cooperative ties between the Chinese and African peoples. During his keynote address, Rahmantala Osman, Permanent Representative of the African Union Delegation to China, emphasized the significant role of China's investment in Africa's modernization process. He expressed hope for strengthened cooperation in various sectors, including education, social security, infrastructure, energy, agriculture, industry, and digitalization, to lead the 'global south' towards prosperity. Roger Emmanuel, Acting-Director of the Embassy of Congo Brazzaville and African co-Chair of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, praised the friendly relations between Africa and China as a model of win-win cooperation. He called for deepening mutual trust and sharing development opportunities to build a better future for both regions. Godius Kahyarara, Permanent Secretary of the Tanzanian Ministry of Transport, conveyed Tanzanian President Suluhu Hassan's appreciation for the cooperation between Africa and China and congratulated the forum's success. He reiterated the longstanding reliable partnership between Tanzania and China, marking the 60th anniversary of their diplomatic ties. South African Ambassador to China, Siyabonga Cwele, noted the growing bilateral relationship between South Africa and China, driven by deep political mutual trust. He expressed hope for further strengthening economic cooperation and cultural exchanges to pool the powerful forces of the African and Chinese peoples towards modernization. The forum, hosted by the Zhejiang Provincial People's Government and organized by the Jinhua Municipal People's Government and Zhejiang Normal University, featured the display of achievements from the 2024 China-A frica Cultural Silk Road Exchange Month. A significant highlight was the inauguration of the China-Africa 'Jinhua' Agricultural Science and Technology Innovation Park and the signing of initial enterprises and cooperation projects valued at approximately 47.9 billion Yuan in Yiwu China-Africa building and Zhejiang-African cooperation initiatives.