Forum calls on African nations to make own investment policies

By The guardian reporter

Vice President Dr Mohammed Gharib Bilal (R) gives a gift to Chen Lin (L), Vice Chairman of Board of Directors of China-Africa young leaders� forum after closing the forum in Arusha on Sunday.

Third Africa-China Young Leaders Forum concluded on Sunday with the call for African countries to make their own policies which will help in promoting regional macroeconomic stability, a very fundamental aspect in improving people's welfare.

 

Wrapping up the forum, Tanzania's Vice President Mohammed Gharib Bilal (pictured) stressed on the need for African policy makers to produce good investment policies.

 

"While we looking at these opportunities, it is a fact that we cannot run away from the new global development approaches. The important thing is for African countries to make their own policies which will help promote our macroeconomic stability," Bilal said.

 

He said that many natural resources are being discovered in many parts of Africa such as oil, gas, precious minerals -- gold, diamonds, uranium, high value gemstones and other metals.

 

“But in some countries these have turned to be a curse rather than a blessing because people from within and outside are fighting over these resources year in year out," the Tanzanian VP said.

 

Bilal said that Africa has to maintain the attained level of economic management for long so that this can inculcate the spirit of trust, "here good governance and accountability, transparency, fight against corruption and rule of law must be exercised to the fullest."

 

"Young leaders from Africa and China have to put into considerations the logic of being able leaders of the future facing the challenges and opportunities facing our countries and the world at large," he told the gathering of 400 participants from 40 countries.

 

Bilal asked African youth to copy the Chinese model in terms of socio-economic development, "China has always been a dear brother of Africa and has passed the same routes as Africa is passing now. "

 

The international forum was co-organized by Tanzania's ruling Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) and Communist Party of China (CPC) under the theme of "Friendship, Cooperation and Development".

 

Secretary General of CCM Youth League Sixtus Mapunda said the forum was the first to be held in Tanzania.

He said in the past the Africa–China Young Leaders Forum was been held in Windhoek, Namibia and Beijing, China.

 

During the meeting, it was agreed that African and Chinese youth must continue to nurture the current relations with the focus on friendship, cooperation, in all aspects towards people's developments.

 

The forum which was opened by the Chairman of African Union (AU) and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, created a platform for regular interaction and cooperation between young people of Africa and China.

 

Meanwhile, The Communist Party of China (CPC) is willing to deepen party-to-party relations with Tanzania's Chama Cha Mapinduzi and Zimbabwe's Zanu-PF, a senior CPC official said here on Saturday.

 

Wang Jiarui, vice chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, made the remarks when meeting with Tanzania's President Jakaya Kikwete and Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe.

 

Wang, also head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, was in Arusha to attend the third Africa-China Young Leaders Forum.

 

Kikwete and Mugabe expressed their congratulations on the opening of the forum, hoping that young people from Africa and China will inherit and carry forward the traditional Sino-Africa friendship.