The 2021 Sino-Ivorian Investment and Partnership Days organized by the International Youth Congress of Africa and China (CONIJAC) took place in Abidjan, the economic capital of Côte d’Ivoire. Among the invited speakers were H.E. WAN Li, Chinese Ambassador to Côte d'Ivoire; Mr. Abdoulaye Ben MÉÏTÉ, President of the General and Institutional Affairs Commission of the National Assembly of Côte d'Ivoire; and Professor DING Yifan, China Forum Expert and former Deputy Director of the Institute of World Development at the Development Research Center of the State Council of China.

Professor Ding elaborated on the prospects of China-Africa cooperation, noting that despite the economic shocks from the pandemic, opportunities for public health cooperation had emerged, especially in terms of medical materials, international support by medical teams, and vaccine production and supply.

Chinese investments in Africa have facilitated the rebalancing of income distribution among regions, which means that African countries receiving Chinese investments have effectively closed the gaps in their regional and social development, Professor Ding noted. Africa will become one of the most important emerging powerhouses for the world economy, and a stronger China will deliver for more countries in the continent.

Professor Ding also proposed three suggestions on China-Africa relations and cooperation in the post-COVID era: first, investing in infrastructure; second, cooperating in education; and third, promoting civil society partnerships.