[GMW.CN]Wang Conghu: Three Things Exemplified the China-Africa Friendship

From August 7th to 11th, 2018, I had the honor to be invited to the 8th International Public Procurement Conference (IPPC) held at Arusha, Tanzania. During my first visit to Africa continent, I felt new and strange, more or less nervous considering our differences in dietary hygiene, social security, language and cultures, and most importantly how would the African people think of our Chinese people.

When I arrived at the Kilimanjaro International Airport at 3 p.m. local time on August 7th, I was excited to see a young lad holding up a big name plate of my name and my university. I only emailed my flight information to the hotel staff, and thought the young lad might be upset after waiting such a long time. Instead he greeted me enthusiastically and even managed to say “Nin Hao” in Chinese, meaning “Hello”. Along the road when the young fellow driving us back to hotel, we also met several students who were excited to see us coming from China. I was impressed by the local people’s hospitality and their good feelings toward China and Chinese people.

In the morning of August 11th, one important agenda of the IPPC8 was to select the host country of the 9th IPPC two years later. By convention, all participants should vote by raising hands and the majority win. There were three candidates, Brazil, the United States and China. According to the procedure, each country had a 5-minute presentation to canvass all the participants. The final result was that China who has won more votes than the sum of Brazil and America’s votes would be the host country of the IPPC9. After the conference, Professor Cao who delivered the presentation on behalf of Chinese delegation, Professor Zhao and I were invited by enthusiastic African counterparts to take group photos. When I think about it, the reason why China can be recognized by so many African countries is that China and Africa has a long history of friendship.

In the afternoon of August 11th, the organizer arranged a city tour from a suburban park to a cultural heritage conservation site and then to a local market fair. The tour aimed to show all the guests from different countries African cultures and customs, and special artifacts and products. After buying several souvenirs, I went back to the bus with two professors from America, one from Russia, one from Serbia. When we were waiting and having a little chat with each other, many volunteers and students from Tanzanian universities who working at the conference rushed to take photos with me, saying that they would like to study in China in the future. While other professors waiting aside, and one American professor (former GSA deputy director) even joked with me: “Professor Wang, my heart is broken.”

During this visit, in addition to the study and exchanges of government procurement issues at the conference, what impressed me most are the three things mentioned above. When I ask myself and my colleagues why could we receive such a welcome and hospitality from the African people? I know deep in heart it is because we are from China, and our great country and people have won the trust of the African people.

(Wang Conghu is Professor at National Academy of Development and Strategy and Public Resource Trading Research Center, RUC)

Original link: http://share.gmw.cn/theory/2018-09/28/content_31422552.htm