African and China Youth interact

First Africa-China Young Leaders Forum concluded, declaration reached

English.news.cn   2011-05-23 14:56:57

WINDHOEK, May 23 (Xinhua) -- The first Africa-China Young Leaders Forum concluded here Sunday, with the Windhoek Declaration reached at the end of the day, calling on young leaders in Africa and China to take their responsibilities in national development and China-Africa cooperation.

The forum, the first of its kind, brought together around 180 youth leaders from Africa and China, with 60 delegates from China, 60 delegates represent Namibia, and a further 60 from another 17 African countries.

Visiting Chinese top legislator Wu Bangguo, Namibian President Hifikepunye Pohamba and Speaker of the Namibian National Assembly Theo-Ben Gurirab attended the opening ceremony of the Forum on Saturday, delivering speeches respectively.

"I hope that through concerted efforts, the forum will become a useful platform for regular exchanges and cooperation between our young people to better bring out the positive role of young people in advancing China-Africa strategic partnership. China is ready to give support and assistance needed as the forum grow," said Wu, chairman of the National People's Congress (NPC) Standing Committee, the country's top legislature.

Namibian SWAPO Party Secretary General Pendukeni Iivula-Ithana, who is also the Namibian minister of Justice, described China as a super-friend while addressing the opening ceremony.

She said that the foundation of Africa-China friendship was bed rocked in history and molded by their fore-fathers, who portrayed a forward looking vision of a better world for the peoples.

"It is thus within this wisdom that our friendship would see many more years to come and defeat the prophets of doom that would want to reverse this noble historical relationship".

During the two-day forum, young delegates discussed on a broad range of topics related to China-Africa relations, such as its historical roots, its context, the trade and investment relations, and the role of media in shaping the relations.

"According to the Windhoek Declaration, this youth platform will become a part of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) , and more African youth leagues will participate or co-host this forum in the future," Namibian Swapo Youth League (SPYL) secretary Elijah Ngurare told Xinhua after delivering a vote of thanks.

"The forum is about how Africa and China could stay together. It gives me a new vision. As a young African, I believe what the world will be like tomorrow depends on what we do today. Africans must take actions now, " Cameroonian delegate Olivier Deigui Mgbatane said to Xinhua.

Helming the IMF......

Essentially Dominique Struass-Kahn's(DSK) zippers did him in. Monitoring the international news I was mortified by the pathetic wincing of some DSK's country folk: Sarkozy they claimed had effectively unzipped his compatriots pants: hogwash. A case of selective amnesia over a record of such dalliances if you ask me.

     The IMF buildings where the fate of developing nations has been decided for decades

Now the search is on for DSK's replacement. Christine Lagarde the French finance minister has announced her candidacy. I am wary. This Madame controversially supported her colleague( then French foreign minister Michele Alliot-Marie) who was holidaying in Tunisia when the uprisings there began(the international press has been completely dumb about this since she announced).  Like DSK does she bring along to a potential leadership of the IMF some controversial baggage?

But the key point for me is the need for the BRICS to take their chance. The idea that an American will run the World bank while a European heads up the IMF is such a deadwood idea in the light of the ongoing  geo-economic and political restructuring of the world. The BRICS have issued a statement. Promising. They should maneuverer more. Of course the Europeans and Americans hold the largest number of votes. But this must change and other policies as well; the more reason why a smart, knows-what-time-it-is  non-European is my choice.  In the IMF contest lies a very public symbolic power tussle pitching the old dominant global power blocs against those trying to break down the doors. I am watching closely.