Jia: Consolidate Sino-African ties

China's top political adviser Jia Qinglin delivers a speech at the Second Africa-China Young Leaders Forum in Beijing, June 18, 2012. [Photo/Xinhua]

Young people from China and African countries should continue traditional sound ties and further boost Sino-African relations, said China's top political adviser Jia Qinglin on June 18 at the Second Africa-China Young Leaders Forum.

Chinese and African young people should deepen their understanding of the strategic meaning of Sino-African ties and the history of Sino-African friendship, Jia said.

"The youth have been playing a very important role in the history of Sino-African ties … the Chinese government always supports the cooperation between Chinese and African young generation," Jia said.

African leaders participating in the forum said China's growth will bring Africa more chances for development.

"The forum offers opportunity for both Chinese and African youth to exchange their ideas," said Garth Shelton, a professor on Chinese studies with the Johannesburg-based University of the Witwatersrand.

According to his study, more African young people have got to know China with the help of the Internet, but their knowledge about the country is very limited, so they should be given more opportunities to know each other, he said.

The forum was organized by the SWAPO Party of Namibia and the Communist Party of China.

More than 100 young leaders from 38 African countries attended the forum.