From 23 to 24 July, 2018, China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE) and Sichuan Provincial People’s Government jointly hosted the Fifth China-Africa People’s Forum in Chengdu.The theme of the Forum is “Pooling the Strength of the People, Working together for Enhanced Friendship and Mutual Trust”. Xi Jinping,General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee and President of China sent a message of congratulations to the Forum. Wang Qishan, Vice President of China, Sun Jiazheng, Vice Chairman of the 11th National Committee of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), Peng Qinghua, Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, Yin Li, Governor of Sichuan Provincial People’s Government, Wang Yajun, Advisor to CNIE and Vice Minister of the IDCPC, Deng Xiaogang, Deputy Secretary of the CPC Sichuan Provincial Committee, Zhu Hexin, Vice Governor of Sichuan Provincial People’s Government, Dou Enyong, CNIE Vice President, Vincent Meriton, President of the People’s Party of Seychelles and Vice President of Seychelles, Clément Mouamba, Prime Minister of the Republic of the Congo, Jakaya Mrisho Kikwete, former President of the United Republic of Tanzania and some 200 delegates from over 120 Chinese and African NGOs coming from 30 countries attended the opening ceremony of the Forum. The delegates also had in-depth discussion on the three topics including “Building Consensus among the People towards Stronger Social Base for China-Africa Cooperation” “Pooling Strength from the People towards Greater Opinion Base for China-Africa Cooperation” “Promoting Exchanges by the People towards Wider Cultural Base for China-Africa Cooperation”. The Forum released the Programme for China-Africa Peopleto-People Friendship and Partnership (2018-2020), according to which 30 non-governmental cooperation projects will be launched in the next three years in five areas including livelihood cooperation projects, donations and assistance work, capacity building and personnel exchanges,development promotion, cultural exchanges and exchange mechanisms.

Initiated by the CNIE in 2011, China-Africa People’s Forum is an important institutionalized event within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and has become an important platform for promoting the people-to-people exchanges and practical cooperation between China and Africa, playing an important role in enhancing the mutual understanding and friendship between Chinese and African people. China-Africa People’s Forum established three principles guiding the peopleto-people exchanges between China and Africa,namely enhancing people-to-people friendship,facilitating practical cooperation, and promoting world Peace. The China-Africa People-to-people Friendship Action Plan formulated in the Forum and implemented thereafter has been widely recognized and supported by the civil society of China and Africa.