On the morning of October 23, 2024, the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University held the first promotion meeting for the compilation of the "Three-Year Action Plan for Coordinated Promotion of Zhejiang-Africa Cooperation in Zhejiang Province (2025-2027)" (hereinafter referred to as the "Action Plan") by the African Studies Team of Zhejiang Normal University. Professor Liu Hongwu, Director General of the IASZNU, Professor Wang Heng, Deputy Director of the IASZNU, and experts and scholars from the compilation team of the "Action Plan" attended the meeting. The meeting was chaired by Professor Xu Wei, Deputy Director of the IASZNU.

Photographs of the promotion meeting

Professor Liu Hongwu made a mobilization speech for the compilation of the "Action Plan". He pointed out that the compilation of the "Action Plan" is of great significance. Everyone must first strengthen their understanding. It not only opens a new door for academic teams to serve the government, but also explores a new path for professional knowledge to serve local economic and social development for the construction of regional country studies. Professor Liu Hongwu emphasized that young teachers should gain external space for growth by participating in the preparation of the Action Plan, deeply integrate academic research with practical work, test and extend the theoretical connotation in practical work, use scientific theories to guide and lead practical work, and strive to grow into participants, organizers and leaders of China-Africa cooperation.

Regarding how to carry out the preparation work with high quality, Professor Liu Hongwu emphasized that it is necessary to fully understand the overall strategic requirements and layout of the country's work on Africa, learn and implement the spirit of documents such as the outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and deeply understand the systematic and overall requirements of China and Africa to jointly promote modernization. It is necessary to strengthen the investigation and research on Zhejiang Province's work on Africa, compile the Zhejiang-Africa cooperation development report, and understand the advantages and characteristics, shortcomings and potential of Zhejiang's cooperation with Africa. It is necessary to strengthen the collaborative cooperation with local government agencies, enterprises and institutions, fully listen to the opinions and suggestions of the front-line practical departments, and simultaneously promote the construction of Zhejiang's cooperation database and case collection with Africa.

Professor Wang Heng said that the preparation work should pay attention to reflecting new heights, depth and foresight.  She believes that the compilation team should be based on the background of globalization, and examine China-Africa and Zhejiang-Africa cooperation from the perspectives of the rise of the global South, the joint construction of the "Belt and Road", the "Greater BRICS Cooperation", the China-Africa Cooperation Forum and other mechanism platforms; it is necessary to earnestly study and implement Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress and the Third Plenary Session of the CPC Central Committee, and deeply grasp the connotations of China's policy documents on Africa, the White Paper on China-Africa Cooperation in the New Era, the Vision 2035 for China-Africa Cooperation, and the Africa 2063 Agenda. It should benchmark the keynote speech of President Xi Jinping at the 2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the core essence of the Beijing Declaration and the Beijing Action Plan, and combine the needs of Africa with the advantages of Zhejiang, inherit traditions with innovative expansion, and theoretical research with practical exploration, and jointly compile a high-quality action plan that can guide Zhejiang's work in Africa in the next three years.

Site of the promotion meeting of the "Three-Year Action Plan for Coordinated Promotion of Zhejiang-Africa Cooperation in Zhejiang Province (2025-2027)"

Professor Xu Wei, emphasized that the Action Plan should reflect development, feasibility and operability.

Dr. Huang Yupei, Associate Professor of the School of Economics and Management of Zhejiang Normal University, shared his experience in participating in the compilation of the previous round of the Action Plan.

Professor Zhou Qian from the IASZNU, Academic Deputy Director and Associate Professor Zhang Qiaowen from the IASZNU, Associate Professor Zhang Yanru from the IASZNU, Associate Professor Sun Zhina from the School of Economics and Management, Director of the Think Tank Office of the IASZNU Li Dongsheng, and young scholars Dr. Chen Li, Dr. Chen Yueliu, Dr. Lu Qiuyi, Dr. Li Zhaoying, and Dr. Sun Xin attended the meeting.