On 23 July 2018, the 5th China-Africa People's Forum (CAPF) was held in Chengdu, China. Chinese President Xi Jinping sent a congratulatory letter and hailed the forum as an important bridge between the Chinese and African people. Vice President Wang Qishan delivered a keynote speech at the opening ceremony.

At the invitation of China NGO Network for International Exchanges (CNIE), Mr. Li Zhonghang, Vice Chairman and Secretary General of Silk Road Chamber of International Commerce (SRCIC) attended the forum and gave a speech on Agglomerating Civilian Force and Consolidating Sino-African Collaboration.

Mr. Li said that as Chinese President Xi indicated at the 1st Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation, the “Belt and Road” is an open initiative which aimed to build a trade and infrastructure network connecting Asia, Europe and Africa along the ancient Silk Road routes. In this case, the Belt and Road Initiative and African Union Agenda 2063 aspirations can work together to complement each other’s advantages.

Li Zhonghang added, “SRCIC has 10 state-level chambers of commerce from Africa. As a transnational business confederation, SRCIC would facilitate the Sino-African relationship from the following aspects: working with SRCIC members to establish an open, fair and non-discriminatory system for international economic and trade investment; facilitating project cooperation through SRCIC professional committees; acting as an envoy of people-to-people exchanges and communications.

Mr. Li received warm applauses from all the audience when he introduced SRCIC Silk Road Sunshine Fund and the opportunity for African students to pursue higher education in China.

At last, on behalf of SRCIC Chairman Lu Jianzhong, Vice Chairman Li Zhonghang cordially invited African friends to attend Silk Road Business Summit in Zhangjiajie city this October.