Beijing: Chinese President Xi Jinping announced that China will offer 60,000 training positions to African nations, with a focus on women and youth representatives, as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen cooperation between China and Africa.
According to Burkina Information Agency, Xi made the announcement during the opening ceremony of the ninth summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). He emphasized that the training opportunities are a key component of the “Avenir de l’Afrique: Formation Professionnelle” (Africa’s Future: Vocational Training) initiative, which aims to provide vocational skills to Africans.
Xi also stated that China plans to collaborate with Africa in establishing an engineering technology academy and will launch a Cultural Silk Road program focused on cooperation in innovation, radio, television, and audiovisual broadcasting. As part of the summit, both sides agreed to designate 2026 as the year of China-Africa people-to-people contacts.
The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, held since 2000, alternates between Beijing and African capitals and serves as a major platform for China to increase its political, economic, and cultural influence on the continent. The forum also promotes projects under the New Silk Road Initiative, a key element of China’s global strategy.