On April 27, 2026, the Second West Africa Forum was successfully held in Dakar, capital of Senegal, under the theme “Exchange of Governance Experience between China and Africa”. The forum, co-hosted by the China-Africa Institute (CAI) and Senegal’s National School of Administration (école nationale d’administration, ENA), brought together renowned experts and scholars, government officials, diplomats, and journalists from China and Africa. Mr. Mor Fall, General Director of the ENA and Professor Ye Hailin, President of the CAI, addressed the opening ceremony.

Mr. Mor Fall is addressing the opening ceremony

Mr. Mor Fall said, governance and cooperation remain critical priorities for West African countries as they advance their development. Building on the outcomes of the inaugural West Africa Forum, this year’s forum provided an important platform for African and Chinese experts and scholars to further share governance experience and explore issues related to strategic partnership and sustainable development. He noted that China has always respected the sovereignty of African countries and supported their independent development and cultural advancement. Africa and China moving forward hand in hand will not only help to promote their own development, but also contribute to the maintenance of world peace and security.

Prof. Ye Hailin is addressing the opening ceremony

This year’s forum featured two parallel sessions: “Governance and Strategic Partnership” and “Investment and Sustainable Development”. Prof. Ye Hailin said in his address that the themes represent a sustained commitment to the key initiatives under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) framework and an in-depth reflection on the development of China-Africa relations amid the current changes of our times. He stressed that China-Africa governance experience exchange is never a one-way effort, but a two-way mutual learning, and that China-Africa strategic cooperation is emerging as a staunch force for upholding multilateralism and promoting unity and self-reliance of the Global South. This year marks the 70^th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Africa, and it is designated as “the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges”. Chinese and African think tanks should take it as an opportunity to deepen cooperation, break the hegemony of western discourse, so as to contribute to the building of all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.

Mr. Ibrahima Gueye is making keynote speech

Mr. Ibrahima Gaye, Director of the Cabinet of Senegalese Prime Minister, delivered a keynote speech on behalf of Prime Minister Sall. He said, the key questions in building a cooperative governance system include how to ensure that cooperation projects are transparent, efficient and inclusive; how to align such cooperation with the long-term aspirations of the African people; and how to refine mechanisms for oversight, evaluation and accountability. He expressed the hope that this forum would offer useful insights on these issues. He also spoke highly of the cooperation between the CAI and ENA in establishing the Center for China and Africa Studies in Senegal. On behalf of the Prime Minister’s Cabinet, he made the commitments to firmly support the development of the center, to promote cooperation between the center and institutions of Senegal, so as to build it as an intellectual hub of West Africa.

Ambassador Li Zhigang is making speech

Chinese Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary to Senegal, Li Zhigang noted in his speech that over the past century, the world witnessed both the collapse of colonialism in the West and the great achievements of the peoples of Asia, Africa and Latin America in resisting colonialism and achieving national liberation. Amid profound changes unseen in a century, the international community increasingly looks to stronger national governance and enhanced global governance capacity to bridge the deficits in peace, development, security and governance. China is ready to work with Senegal and other African countries to implement “African solutions to African problems”, and to offer intellectual support for fostering a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future and upholding the common interests of the Global South.

Professor Charles Romain Mbele is making speech

Professor Charles Romain Mbele at the University of Yaounde I, Cameroon, explained the core philosophy underpinning China-Africa cooperation in the new era within the context of intellectual history and civilization. He observed the paradoxical nature of the international community: while some countries are closing their borders to trade, and making war as a means of settling conflicts; Africa-China cooperation continues to expand with remarkable vitality. China has expanded zero-tariff treatment to all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic relations. This stands as a powerful symbol of the shared pursuit of common prosperity and mutual benefit between China and Africa.

Sun Xueqing is making speech

Sun Xueqing, Vice President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries (CPAFFC) underscored the vital roles played by scholars in deepening China-Africa cooperation. He said that by strengthening exchange of ideas between Chinese and African scholars, the two sides could walk hand in hand on the path to modernization; and through people-to-people exchange, they could reinforce traditional friendship. As the leading organizer of the 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, CPAFFC will make every effort to coordinate think tanks, universities, media and other sectors from both China and Africa to deliver a vibrant array of exchange programs.

Participants are having discussions and interviews

The participating experts and scholars also engaged in in-depth discussions which centered on the strategic alignment of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the African Continental Free Trade Area. Drawing on the practical experiences of countries including Ghana, Senegal and Benin, the participants shared insights on green finance, clean energy, digital infrastructure, mining governance reform, cooperation in agricultural value chain and other topics. They agreed that through talent cultivation and dialogue among civilizations, the two sides could solidify the social foundation of the China-Africa community with a shared future.

A scene of the forum

Group photo