On November 9, 2021, “The Ninth Africa Lecture: Social-economic Impacts of COVID-19 in Africa” was held online and off line. Professor Busani Ngcaweni was invited to deliver a keynote speech, who is a distinguished scholar and director of the National School of Government of South Africa. Professor Wang Xiaoming, the vice-president of the CAI presided over the lecture. More than 100 Chinese and African scholars from related colleges and research institutions in South Africa, Benin, Cameroon and other African countries attended the lecture. The main venue was in China-Africa Institute.

The picture shows Professor Busani Ngcaweni giving an online lecture

Professor Busani Ngcaweni starts with the COVID-19 pandemic in Africa. He said that the COVID-19 is not a new pandemic of infectious diseases in Africa. The Ebola and AIDS epidemic has made African countries accumulated more experience in dealing with infectious diseases. The Cumulative confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Africa had exceeded 8 million 500 thousand cases by November 6, 2021, according to the latest data. By November 7, 50 African countries had obtained vaccines through the COVAX mechanism, and 5.88% of the population of the African continent had completed vaccination. Although the current vaccination rate in Africa is low, the number of vaccinations is increasing. Over reliance on Western aid has also led to limited vaccine supplies. He pointed out that overcoming vaccine nationalism and uniting to fight the epidemic is what African countries are doing now. The COVID-19 pandemic has a great impact on the development of the tourism and the process of economic integration in Africa.

Pictured is the main of venue

Then Professor Busani Ngcaweni described the economic development history of Africa since the 1950s. He said that many African countries experienced strong economic growth in the early days of independence. However, the 1980s became "the lost decade" for many African countries due to their dependence on loans from the world bank and the International Monetary Fund, mistakes in relevant economic policies and the impact of war. After the millennium, the political stability, the transformation of development mode and the rise of emerging economies such as China, India and Brazil have brought new opportunities for Africa's economic development. At present, with the active participation of the African Union in African social governance, violent conflicts on the African continent have decreased significantly, the process of economic integration has accelerated, and Africa has broad prospects for development. However, social inequality, unemployment and poverty still plague African countries.

Finally, Professor Busani Ngcaweni looked forward to the future development goals of the African continent from the fields of industry, agriculture, economy and trade, and the positive impact of China—Africa cooperation on the African continent. He believes that in the future, China and Africa should pay more attention to cooperation in scientific research, education, health, sports and culture, aim to improving the capacity of African countries and create more development opportunities for the African continent.

The scholars attended the lecture interacted with the lecturer in Q&A regarding topics of the social solidarity of overcoming the COVID-19 pandemic in South Africa，the vaccine supply in South Africa, and the impact of the epidemic on the people's livelihood of African countries.

The picture shows Wang Xiaoming presiding over the forum and making a concluding speech