The 19th China Lecture “Chinese Modernization and China-Africa Joint Development” was held by China-Africa Institute (CAI) on April 23, 2024. Li Xinfeng, Executive President of the CAI, and Wu Chuanhua, Associate Research Fellow of the CAI, and also Director of the Editorial Office of the Journal of China-Africa Studies, delivered keynote speeches. The lecture was attended by 18 senior officials of the visiting delegation of South African Communist Party led by Solly Mapaila, First Deputy General Secretary of South African Communist Party. Li Xinfeng presided over the lecture.

Solly Mapaila is attending the lecture

Li Xinfeng delivered a speech titled "Yan'an's Road to Targeted Poverty Alleviation in the New Era", introducing the four steps of China’s Poverty Alleviation Program and the significance of targeted poverty alleviation in Yan'an. He said, Yan'an has embarked on the road of targeted poverty alleviation since 2012, and achieved great outcomes.

He underlined the effective poverty alleviation measures in Yan'an. Firstly, party secretaries at four levels are organized with different focuses to carry out work in the process of poverty alleviation. Secondly, Yan’an insists on nurturing cooperation between the government, the market and the society to fully meet the capital demand of overcoming poverty. Thirdly, Yan'an insists on promoting poverty alleviation through Industrial development by creating new projects, upgrading existing projects and reforming outdated projects. Fourthly, Yan'an insists on promoting Green Poverty Alleviation through ecological development. Fifthly, Yan'an insists on promoting poverty alleviation through social cause with multi-party cooperation and cohesion, Finally, in order to pulls out poor roots, Yan'an insists on promoting Spiritual Poverty Alleviation with dual support in both determination and resources to pulls out poor roots.

He also noted that Yan'an's experience in poverty reduction is a good example of China's great success in poverty alleviation. It does not only embody the essence of Socialism with Chinese characteristics, but also highlights that the goal of the Communist Party of China (CPC) is governing for the benefit of the people. It provides a reference for other impoverished area, and contributes to the global poverty reduction with Chinese wisdom and Chinese solution.

Li Xinfeng is delivering speech

Wu Chuanhua delivered a speech titled "Chinese Modernization and China-South Africa Common Development", underlining the history, achievements and experience of Chinese modernization. He said that Chinese modernization comes from the civilization of 5,000 years, it comes from the long term of liberation struggle and hard work of the Chinese People, as well as the strong leadership of the CPC.

He said, the strong leadership of the CPC is the fundamental reason to achieve success in Chinese modernization. Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949, the CPC has led the people to create two miracles: the rapid economic development and long-term social stability. In industry, China has completed the process of industrialization in just several decades that western developed countries have experienced in several hundred years. In poverty reduction, China created a historic "miracle of poverty reduction", helping more than 700 million people to lift out of poverty. He also briefed on China-South Africa trade and economic relations and future cooperation, adding that China is willing to work with South Africa for common development and a bright future.

Wu Chuanhua is delivering speech

In the Q & A session, members of the delegation of South African Communist Party had an in-depth discussion with the speakers on the great achievements of Chinese modernization, the practice of targeted poverty alleviation in Yan'an, and how to exercise full and strict governance over the Party. Solly Mapaila pointed out that the China Lecture, organized by the CAI, dose not only provide an academic exchange platform for scholars, but also helps policymakers in Africa and other countries to learn from the valuable experience of Chinese modernization. Western countries have set up academic institutions, media platforms and launched short-term projects and exchange programs in Africa. However, their purpose is to make profits rather than promoting the development of African countries. On the contrast, China's aid projects in Africa have helped many African countries including South Africa, Tanzania and Zambia to boost its economic and social development and improve people's livelihood.

The 19^th  China Lecture