Madam Olga Dzhumaeva, Head of East Asia Regional Delegation of IFRC
Excellencies African Ambassadors and diplomats here present
Mr. Zhou Hong, Chairperson of the Academic Committee of the International Cooperation Center, Member of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences
Distinguished representatives from Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies of AU Member States
Dear Colleagues and Friends,
I wish to thank IFRC, for initiating this symposium, and for inviting the AU Permanent Mission to be part of it.
I am delighted to see representatives from Red Cross Red Crescent National Societies of more than 20 African countries here in Beijing, participating in this important initiative. As you are aware, this year marks the 70th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Africa and China, and has also been designated the Year of Cultural and People-to-People Exchanges. Under the visionary leadership of His Excellency President Xi Jinping and His Excellency Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the African Union Commission, China and Africa have continued to elevate the Sino-African partnership. Your presence here is a vivid testament of the strategic and comprehensive nature of the China-Africa partnership.
Over the past two hours, we have come together with diverse perspectives and mandates. Yet, what has emerged from our conversations is a shared recognition that community resilience lies at the heart of the future we aspire for both China and Africa. Whether we spoke of disaster preparedness, health security, or food systems, the message has been consistent: resilience begins with people, with communities, and with local actors who are often the first to respond and the last to leave.
