On October 15, the Seminar on Think Tanks and National Development Research for English-Speaking African Countries, alongside the Seminar on Urban Governance of Emerging Cities for Developing Countries, jointly commenced in Beijing. This event was organized by UCASS under the auspices of the Ministry of Commerce.

Zhan Long, Assistant President of UCASS, extended a warm welcome to participants during the opening ceremony. He noted China’s ongoing transformation driven by digital technology and digital economy, a process characterized by intelligent production, digital governance and emerging new productive forces. In the context of globalization, he expressed confidence in the economic prospects for China and China’s aspirations to collaborate with a broad spectrum of developing countries, including those in Africa, to foster shared economic prosperity. He highlighted the fresh momentum generated by the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, ushering in new beacon of hope for global peace and development. These seminars are expected to facilitate the sharing of China’s developmental experience with scholars and officials from developing countries, while exploring new pathways for cooperation.

Representatives from both programs shared their perspectives on this special occasion. Mesfin Gebremariam Shawo, the Ethiopian Ambassador to Rwanda, spoke on behalf of the Seminar on Think Tanks and National Development Research for English-Speaking African Countries. He described China’s reform and opening-up trajectory as "extraordinary and instructive," offering a valuable reference for other developing nations.

Vahan Potosyan, the Chief Expert from the Ministry of Territorial Infrastructure of Armenia, addressed the event as a representative of the Seminar on Urban Governance of Emerging Cities for Developing Countries. He underscored the largely common challenges in urban governance across developing nations, including infrastructure development, waste management and transportation systems.

Kicking off the seminar programs that span a duration of two weeks, the opening ceremony was attended by over 40 participants from Ethiopia, South Africa, Nigeria, Zimbabwe, Tanzania, Mauritius, Armenia, Turkey, Iraq, and beyond.