Pan Biling Attends International Dialogue on Development and Cooperation in the Global South and Delivers Keynote Speech

Written by: Xia Zhuoqiong

Edited by: Wang Chengqi

Translated by: Li Tingting, Xiao Liang

Source: International Exchange Center

On the afternoon of September 23, the International Dialogue on Development and Cooperation in the Global South was held at the United Nations Compound in Beijing. The event was co-hosted by the United Nations China Office and the International Cooperation Center. The session was moderated by Siddharth Chatterjee, UN Resident Coordinator in China. Cristina Duarte, UN Deputy Secretary General and Special Adviser on Africa, delivered a video address. Ma Shengrong, Chief Expert of the International Cooperation Center and former Deputy Bureau Chief and Executive Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Xinhua News, attended and addressed for the conference. Pan Biling, Vice Chairman of the Hunan Provincial Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and President of Xiangtan University, delivered a keynote speech.

The international dialogue was held right after the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and coincided with the Summit of the Future taking place at UN Headquarters in New York. The meeting noted that after more than 30 years of ups and downs, developing countries have returned to the center of the global stage, and the rise of the Global South has attracted worldwide attention. It observed that the international community should build broader consensus under the UN framework to accelerate the implementation of the sustainable development goals, strengthen support for South-South cooperation, and advance the development of Global South countries by enhancing capacity building.

During the session themed The Rise and Future of the Global South, Pan Biling delivered a speech entitled Leverage the Advantages of Local Universities, Deepen the Mutual Learning of Chinese and African Civilization. He shared with the participants Xiangtan University’s efforts and achievements in China-Africa exchanges, especially in legal and people-to-people exchanges and cooperation, and outlined the direction and priority areas for future engagement with Africa. He stressed that against the backdrop of the rise of the Global South, universities should take the initiative to strengthen cooperation with international organizations such as the United Nations and high-end think tanks including the International Cooperation Center, intensify talent cultivation, and provide intellectual support for the sustainable development of Global South countries. He put forward three proposals to the attendees: to establish a China-Africa Alliance for Talents, Education and Technology; to build a China-Africa Database of Law, Economy, Trade and Knowledge; to launch a Mechanism for China-Africa Youth Development and Exchanges.

Pan Biling’s remarks received positive responses from African ambassadors to China. James Kimonyo, Rwanda’s Ambassador to China, and Ibrahima Sory Sylla, Senegalese ambassador to China, commended Xiangtan University for its long-standing commitment to advancing exchanges and cooperation with Africa. Both ambassadors expressed their intention to visit Xiangtan University to promote educational and academic exchanges between Xiangtan University and institutions in Rwanda and Senegal.

Representatives from the National Development and Reform Commission, the China International Development Cooperation Agency, and the Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, along with officials from the United Nations China Office and the International Cooperation Center and their invited guests, attended the meeting. The event was also attended by 21 ambassadors to China from over 70 countries, 20 deputy directors of Embassy in China, and 30 counselors and diplomats. Renowned global development expert Jeffrey Sachs, Professor of Economics at Columbia University, joined the meeting via video link and delivered a speech.

Representatives from Xiangtan University’s Law School, Business School, and Office of International Exchange also attended the meeting. They held discussions with Zhang Yu, Director of the Advisory Committee of the International Cooperation Center, on matters including the joint organization of high-level international academic conferences on China-Africa cooperation.