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Beijing, Jiangsu, Guizhou – Guests from African Portuguese-speaking countries explored in depth. In a roundtable talk, the three African parliamentarians shares their observations and experiences in China and discuss how China’s experiences can provide valuable lessons for Africa’s development.

In recent years, China has made remarkable achievements in green and high-quality development. By advancing environmental protection and sustainable development, China has not only improved its domestic ecological environment but also set an example for global green development. Environmental protection has become an indispensable part of poverty reduction and national development.

Sérgio Pantie, Head of the parliamentary delegation of the Mozambique Liberation Front (FRELIMO), stated that China has shown the world its green development model, highlighting that environmental protection is a crucial part of poverty reduction and national development.

Carla de Sousa, Member of the National Assembly of Angola, emphasized that China will continue to move towards high-quality development, consolidating construction achievements while continuously improving services and development quality.

At the same time, China’s cooperation with Africa has been deepening. The collaboration between China and African countries in economic, financial, and environmental protection sectors has promoted mutual development and prosperity.

Jorge Bondoso, Member of the National Assembly of Sao Tome and Principe, believes that China and African countries are making joint efforts to build bridges in economic, financial, and environmental protection sectors.

SFC Markets and Finance: Today, we have invited three special guests,who are from Africa.Distinguished members, please introduce yourselves.Let’s start with Mr.Pantie.

Sérgio Pantie: Thank you. I’m Sergio Pantie, head of the Mozambican delegation. At the parliamentarian of Mozambique, I am head of the parliamentary group of the Frelimo Party, the majority party. And I’m also the president of the Mozambique-China Friendship Association.

Carla de Sousa: I’m Carla Ribeiro de Sousa. At the Parliament of Angola, I am a member of the parliamentary group of the MPLA, the majority party. I also serve on the Fourth Committee of the Angolan Parliament, which is the committee on local governance.

Jorge Bondoso: I’m Jorge Bondoso. I’m a member of the ruling ADI parliamentary group. I also serve on the Fourth Committee, which is the committee on civic affairs and human rights.

SFC Markets and Finance: We know that over the past period, you have traveled through many rural areas in China, from Jiangsu in the east to Guizhou in the west. What are some of the places that impressed you the most?

Sérgio Pantie: We are deeply impressed. This seminar is designed for the exchange of experience and cooperation, and provides a valuable opportunity between China and African countries.

We have visited various provinces and cities to study the local situation and learn from their experiences. It gave us a real insight into the local reality, how the local population organize their daily lives, how they make decisions. And it showed us how residents are involved in the day-to-day planning and management of their villages. All of this gave us food for thought and inspiration.

We saw a variety of governance models here, and the most impressive thing is China’s ability to combine rural governance with environmental governance. Environmental protection is a key issue for China’s governance, and also for countries around the world.

But China’s model is unique, which recognizes that lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets. Here we are witnessing this concept in action.China has abundant vegetation, the rivers are clear, and this greatly improves people’s life quality.

Seeing is believing, and hearing is not. We have actually witnessed, in people’s daily lives, social and economic prosperity, and how man and nature live in harmony.

Carla de Sousa: With Mr. Sergio’s brilliant statement in mind, we’ll just add a few words. The two villages we visited provide us with a unique example, and I’ll tell you why.

Firstly, because China continues to preserve its historical, spiritual and cultural values, and this goes hand in hand with environmental protection. Lucid waters and lush mountains are invaluable assets, we can see that in these two villages.

We also witnessed here the care for the elderly. And we’ve experienced the traditional custom of respect for the elderly, and respect for culture and ancestry. We also saw the respect and protection of China’s ethnic minorities. While vigorously promoting modernization and rapid growth, China has not left the ethnic minorities behind. Instead, China strives to realize common development of all ethnic groups. That’s what impresses me so much. China has shown us that it’s possible for different ethnic groups to live in harmony.

We talked a lot about modernization, and about innovation. But here we see more of a combination of preservation and innovation.

Jorge Bondoso: Thanks for the statements of the two parliamentarians from Mozambique and Angola. What they said was exactly what I wanted to say.

I have learned a lot from this trip, and I will take this experience back to Sao Tome and Principe, to share with the people and authorities of my country. It is often said that there are no limits to learning, scientific development is also never-ending. Valuable experiences and scientific wisdom should be shared.

I am very grateful for this trip to China. During which we were able to see the real picture of China, with its advanced technology and infrastructure. I think China is a country that can create miracles. China is a country that has a lot to offer.

As parliamentarian Carla de Sousa said, Cultural inheritance energizes the Chinese nation. Culture is indispensable to the people of a country. The first issue for the continuity of a people is the preservation of its culture. Chinese people have a deep love for Chinese culture. Without cultural inheritance, a nation cannot be united. China’s ethnic groups live in unity with the richness of their culture.

For Africa, especially for Sao Tome and Principe, all political leaders must be united, for the prosperity of the African continent. China has extended a helping hand to African countries. African countries should also respond positively.

As a member of parliament, I have learned so much. I will bring the valuable experience and knowledge back to my country, and I will tell every colleague what I have seen and heard. I will let everyone know that, China is not what the Western media reports.

SFC Markets and Finance: All three of you mentioned a few key terms. The first one is poverty alleviation. Poverty alleviation might be one of the greatest achievements since the founding of New China. How would you evaluate the significance of poverty alleviation?

Sérgio Pantie: This is an impressive achievement. No other country in the world has been able to do this. Lifting the people out of poverty means improving people’s quality of life, increasing income and employment, ensuring water and energy supplies, and access to education and healthcare, and China is to be congratulated for these achievement.

China has always advocated win-win cooperation, common development for modernization, building a community with a shared future. China will join hands with other countries. China still faces various challenges. And still says it is a developing country, not a developed country. But China always extends a helping hand to other countries. And many African countries have benefited from China’s help.

As a Portuguese-speaking country in Africa, I am very grateful for this opportunity of exchanges with parliamentarians from other Portuguese-speaking countries. As parliamentarians, we have the right to exercise our power, we have the duty to bring back what we have seen and heard in China, and to bring back to our country the development experience we have learned here.

Carla de Sousa: China has won the battle against poverty, I think it’s a miracle. I have been to many countries, both socialist and capitalist countries, but this trip to China has shown me China’s unique development model that enables China to lift so many people out of poverty.

This is my fourth time in China. The last time I came was in 2010. I’m amazed at how much China has achieved over the last 14 years. China has taken on a brand new look. The two villages we visited earlier, have provided people with excellent living conditions.

People don’t have to struggle for jobs, for food and clothing, or for a better education, to travel far from home. They have other options, of course. But they don’t have to leave their homes for all that.

No one is illiterate, no one can’t drive a tractor,mand no one is unable to feed themselves. For me, that’s what it takes to get out of poverty. These are the indicators.

Now, how can we draw on China’s experience and take it back to our country? After acquiring the experience, we will think differently. I feel like a student here, and I will pass on what I’ve learned to others, to our people and our government, especially to the government of the party I belong to, as the ruling party, it plays a vital role and has rich experience.

In addition, I’ve found that China’s progress out of poverty is step by step, on a regular basis, with continuous improvement and in pursuit of quality. They don’t relax once reached a certain level of poverty eradication. They’re trying to go further, and consolidate what has already been achieved. China says it’s just getting started. I don’t know what China will look like in 1 or 2 decades. With such a successful start, I don’t know what the future holds.

I’m going to take this unprecedented experience back to my country. We’re going to apply it and we want China to be by our side, work together to achieve great results.

Jorge Bondoso: Speaking of poverty and poverty reduction, we have all shared our own ideas, I’ll take the words of my two parliamentarian colleagues, I am amazed at China’s achievements on poverty reduction.

China has lifted over 700 million people out of poverty. The total population of Sao Tome and Principe is 200,000. The total population of Sao Tome and Principe is 200,000. And these 200,000 people are still in poverty.

So I want to say that, you have always made the impossible possible. It’s unprecedented. I’m overwhelmed, beyond words.

I’d like to borrow the words of the two parliamentarians, I will do my best to take what I’ve learned here back to my country and share it with government officials including the secretary general of the ruling party, and even the Prime Minister himself.

SFC Markets and Finance: There is an old Chinese saying, “To get rich, build roads first.” I remember when you were in Guizhou, you were very interested in the bridges built there. How can these Chinese infrastructure technologies be introduced to Africa, and to each of your countries?

Sérgio Pantie: China has provided Mozambique, PALOPs, and the rest of the world, support on infrastructure. China has been very responsive to our requests, and has done so much for us within its means.

The largest infrastructure built in the 50 years of Mozambique’s independence was officially inaugurated on June 25th of this year. It was built with the support of the Chinese government and people.

I would like to highlight the bridge in Maputo, the largest in Africa, built with Chinese aid. The bridge over the Save River, currently under construction, will connect the southern and central regions of Mozambique. The old bridge over the Save River will be demolished to make way for the new bridge, because only the new bridge can meet Mozambique’s current transportation needs.

Just like the Maputo Ring Road and other important national highways, China has built the largest cultural center in Mozambique, the Mozambique-China Cultural Center in Maputo. China helped us build all the above mentioned infrastructure projects. But our needs in infrastructure are still huge. There’s still much room in our cities, and China has been opening its door of support. What we feel is that the support China is giving us today is a continuation of the support it has given us in the national liberation of Mozambique.

Now we are facing other challenges, one of which is poverty, but China is with us. When inviting us to participate in this symposium, China said, let’s work together to build a better future. For modernization of China and Africa, which naturally involves infrastructure construction. Let’s take into account our national conditions and the conditions of the African continent, to explore the path of democracy together.

China also adheres to this principle when it provides infrastructure support to other countries, China never interferes with the politics and sovereignty of other countries. China wants us to be able to fight poverty, to meet the challenges of climate change, war and terrorism. With joint efforts, we can build a new international order.

China never imposes its ideas on others, nor has it ever claimed to be the best. It wants to contribute to others. It is willing to support others to achieve results. In addition, I would like to commend two important world-oriented initiatives in regard to infrastructure.

For example, the Belt and Road Initiative, which is of great significance.I can’t put into words what China is doing right now. In this seminar, we studied the theoretical part especially on rural development and poverty reduction.

We also want to move from theory to practice. In my country, under our national conditions, to promote rural development.

Carla de Sousa: In Guizhou, I’ve seen a higher level of infrastructure development in China. I would say it’s the key to China’s success.

Africa is the cradle of human civilization. In Africa, everything is untouched, to be explored and developed. Today, I consider my country, Angola, to be the second largest economy in Africa, boosted by China’s financial support. At the moment, in addition to road transportation, railroad transportation, air transportation, housing, and so forth, our cultural sector is also developing well with Chinese financial support. I can say with certainty that 70% of our infrastructure has been financed by China.

As an architect, I’ve been involved in the design and execution of many Chinese projects. I worked with the Chinese on the Angolan airport project, and also involved in the construction of 3 million housing units. We are still using the resources that China has provided and built. And we are grateful for that, because these projects have transformed the country. But even so, we’re still a long way from where we want to be.

What I’ve also discovered on this trip is that our cooperation with China and with Chinese funding have great potential. We have ongoing projects and signed agreements with China. There are around 36 agreements already signed and more than 15 agreements in progress.

There’s a Chinese saying goes, If you want to get rich, build roads first, it’s true. Roads can break down the limits. Roads can promote trade, scientific research, promote culture and education, because people will go out along these roads. Nowadays, transportation can be done not only by asphalt, but also by air, water, and sea. Roads expand the boundaries of travel and transportation, and it’s important. We should build not only the path in reality, but also the path of ideas.

In terms of ideas, we should have a strategy. China has done this by developing its own planning strategy. To reach the heights that China has reached, we need better organization. We have to be clear in our leadership, in our priorities.

China will continue to grow towards high-quality development, consolidating construction achievements while improving services and development quality.

Jorge Bondoso: In terms of road construction, infrastructure, I would say I was most impressed by the construction of the port, shocked when I arrived at the site. Then the bridges, I was also impressed when I passed by the bridges.

While we’re on the subject of infrastructure, I want to talk about my country. There has been cooperation between our two countries in this area. China has established the National People’s Congress, where we have the parliament. Chinese aid is present in every aspect of our lives. We have libraries built by China. We have Chinese-built health care centers. We have the best equipment in these facilities.

When it comes to infrastructure, of all the countries I’ve been to, China is the most advanced in this regard. It’s very advanced. It’s able to provide people with infrastructure like roads, energy and water. It’s the key to reducing poverty. A country that lacks energy, roads, a country lacks these can’t get out of poverty. But China keeps building roads, houses, bridges. When we have these facilities, our country will continue to develop. Our economy will grow.

SFC Markets and Finance: Besides poverty alleviation, the second keyword I want to mention is “green.” In recent years, China has also achieved a lot in green development. How do you view these achievements? Which practices from China can be replicated in Africa?

Sérgio Pantie: Despite different national conditions, I think the environment issue is a global one, closely related to the preservation of nature. It’s a common problem for all mankind. China has shown the world its green development model, green development policies, and how to involve people in the green development work. It tells us that environmental protection is an important part of poverty reduction and national development.

I think protecting the environment, sustainable conservation of natural resources is a major priority. I would say yes, China in this respect, sets a very good example. These days, We’ve visited a lot of places, I’m glad we didn’t just travel by plane, but also by car, we see that the Chinese people are living in forests, in green gardens, living in harmony with nature. Here we can see nature in full bloom, so flourishing, so lush, like the blue ocean. We find that every Chinese person respects nature and contributes to environmental protection. We can see this model.

In my country, we still face many problems. There are forest fires, destroying animal habitat to clear the land for farming. We also face the problem of climate change. We’re often hit by cyclones, two or three times every year. And we would like to thank China for its support when a very strong cyclones hit the central part of the country, China has been there for us. So, I think yes. China sets a very good example.

Speaking of environmental protection, a good natural environment is also an important asset. I’d like to congratulate China and the Chinese people on environmental protection.

Carla de Sousa: When we talk about the environment, we’re talking about human survival. I think the biggest challenge facing all countries today are the impacts of climate change. Today, I think the prospects of all countries depend on the impacts of climate change. So special attention must be paid to make sure that the impacts are not devastating.

Recently we’ve seen flooding in Asia, which is the manifestation of climate change issue. There are similar situations in Africa, flooding, in particular, is severe. I’ve noticed here protection of the slopes, to prevent landslides and protect the slopes from erosion. From the perspective of utilization, nature protection, and tourism, water conservation and the use of solar power are both very important. I noticed that solar panels are installed everywhere along the way, and this creates economies of scale. Solar panels convert the sunlight that nature gives us into energy, and the wind power as well, they are renewable resource. All these contribute to environmental protection.

Our country is currently bothered by such problems. Problems of garbage management, basic sanitation, and sewage treatment. And China is showing us the solution, It’s building a recycling system for waste. That’s why I think we need to improve our systems, develop our management practices, and turn trash into treasure, to realize the potential of waste recycling, creating jobs in waste management process. Our country needs further efforts in this direction.

As an African country, we are rich in natural resources. We are blessed with mineral wealth, beautiful landscapes, dense forests, diversified and delightful wildlife, apart from the animals found in other countries, we also have many ancient animals, some reptiles, native snakes, monkeys, chimpanzees, and so on, can all be found here. We want to promote tourism, and we need China’s help, to make these natural resources work for our country. But it’s not just for our own health and joy, it’s about sharing our resources with Africa, with China, and with the world. We may be the main contributors to these resources, but China has taught us how to work together, how to share our resources in a way that avoids war and violence. Because war and violence also destroy the earth’s environment.

And here, I hope that China will include us in its development agenda. You’re looking to the future, please bring us with you, so we can discuss the environment issue together. It is not only of national interest, but also a responsibility to the country and its people. It means you care about the Chinese people.You care about cleaning up during industrial production. That’s what we want to do in our country. We’re not talking about environmental protection yet, we just get started. We have goals that must be accomplished.

Whenever I talk about the waters, the oceans, it reminds me how polluted our oceans are. Plastic is a major pollutant. Fish eat plastic, and we eat fish. This leads to disease. We’re still dumping factory wastewater directly into our rivers and oceans. The wastewater should be de-aluminized, if not, we’ll drink and absorb it. As a result, our life is deteriorating. Although the average life expectancy of our people has increased from 40 to 60 years. It’s still short compared to the longevity of the Chinese. That’s why I say we need to improve the quality of our environment. It’s an important commitment to our people, as well as a huge challenge.

Sérgio Pantie: In this regard, I would like to add one thing. The environmental protection work that we saw in the two villages is a source of income for local families and residents. We also visited two rivers near the villages. We found that the Yangtze River was also benefiting the local community, attracting a lot of tourists.

We visited the harbor on another stretch of water. Being an old industrial area, there were a lot of polluting companies in the neighborhood, so polluting businesses have moved out of the area to make way for green spaces. These green spaces are going to make a huge contribution to environmental protection. It’s an ambitious vision that I want to share with people.

Jorge Bondoso: When it comes to the environment, I think China is the expert and leader in environmental protection. In China, wherever I go, I see green. I’ve seen as much green in China as I have seen in Sao Tome. I come from a tropical country. In the middle of the Gulf of Guinea, near the equator. We get a lot of rainfall. So we’re rich in water resources. We also grow greenery. When you look down on Sao Tome from an airplane, it’s green as far as the eye can see. And that’s the same thing that I feel in China as well.

In China, you can see green everywhere. When I got settled in China, I told a friend that I was going to China on business. I’ll go with the delegation and so on. My friend said that when you come back, you’ll be as young as 20. Why is that? Because you’ll be happy there. Yes, he’s right.

This is my first time in China, I wish I’d come to China when I was 20 or so. I’d like to see what China was like then. Now that I’m in China, I find that you’re particularly concerned about the environment.

Parliamentarian Carla also mentioned that she was in China 10 years ago, and now that she’s back, she can see the tremendous changes in China. I’d like to say that you’re the champion. You’re doing so well, so advanced, it’s indescribable. I’ve been to many cities and I always ask how come there’s no garbage on the roads? Because everything here is processed and utilized. Everything is recycled.

You care about the environment. But the West sends a different message to Africa, that you are the biggest polluter in the world. But in reality, as my friend said, I want to come here in my twenties. I want to see it with my own eyes. And I have seen a lot and I learned a lot. When I get back home, I will meet with the mayor of my constituency, and tell him I went to China. This is what China is like. China has all these things. I know the mayor will do the same thing. If possible, build partnerships with China through government channels.

Come, see, and learn from China. During the trip, I can’t remember a city that is not green. I didn’t see what the Western media said. I didn’t see it. I have a habit, every day after the visit, I go back to my room and start writing, editing messages, sharing what I had seen and heard. That’s why I say you’re the worthy champion. You’re the champion of champions. I’ve been to Portugal, where there are serious environmental problems. Upon arrival at the airport in Portugal, we couldn’t see anything because of the dust. It’s a European country, a Western country. While in China, I didn’t see any serious problems. I was surprised.

As I was saying, my country is on the Gulf of Guinea, an African country near the equator. I see green in my country, I also see green in China. As parliamentarian Carla said, we’re from Africa, and we have abundant resources. For example, the air in Africa is very clear. I’ve been to Portugal, the air there isn’t so fresh. So please, you must teach us on how to protect the environment. Please do so. Because wisdom can’t be taken away. No one knows how you did it all. So please share your experience with us in Africa.

SFC Markets and Finance: At the beginning, Mr.Pantie mentioned that China is a part of the developing world. In fact, like Africa, China is also a part of the Global South. How does China’s development positively impact the Global South?

Sérgio Pantie: China has been putting forward various initiatives to promote South-South cooperation and solidarity for development. Thank you and congratulations to China. If there’s a country willing to put in the effort, time, resources, and friendly gestures, for common development of the global South, that country is China. So, China is an important part of the world. China has put forward many initiatives. It’s a demonstration of China’s willingness not to go alone on the road to development.

China wants to go with all the countries and bring smaller countries along. China has the strength to bring them together to develop, to fight disease, to improve infrastructure, to modernize together. But all of this is based on the different national conditions of each country. We’re deeply impressed with this visit. China has shown us and the world its own principles of development. And it’s a principle that’s already been practiced in China, from the countryside to the cities. Working together with the people, working together for development. So China is a very strong partner. We should deepen mutual exchanges based on existing friendly relations. Not just between governments and parliaments, but also people-to-people exchanges.

As the two parliamentarians just said, the information we receive on a daily basis is often rumors from the West trying to distort the truth about China’s development. But the China we see, the China we want to visit, is a country that we want to travel along with.

Carla de Sousa: As parliamentarian Sergio said, South-South relations and the prospects of the global South are very important. Countries like ours that are so weak in the eyes of the West, can also rise and achieve high-quality development. Together with China, we can get there. China is the best partner we’ve had so far. China is the best partner we’ve had so far. China is a qualified partner, an unreserved partner, a partner who is willing to build good relations with African countries. I think this is the key to our success, also the key to our economic leap.

Angola is already on the path of cooperation with China. We have to consolidate our existing programs, consolidate our existing strategies, for better exchange and dialog with China.

Jorge Bondoso: First of all, I think that the two parliamentarians have discussed the subject thoroughly. But I would like to say that I am proud to have visited China. Secondly, China and Africa, especially the PALOPs, Mozambique, Angola, Sao Tome, Cape Verde, and Guinea, which is not here at the moment, will join hands to boost the economy of the PALOPs.

Because our economies are facing serious problems in common. And as I said, not only our parliamentarians have to understand this, our government must also be aware of these problems. Our economies are facing serious problems. I hope that the Chinese government will be able to show us the way, the direction, the development model. Tell us how to promote the economy of the PALOPs. All these are my personal feelings.

SFC Markets and Finance: How can China and Africa work together to enhance the influence of the Global South on the global stage?

Sérgio Pantie: Together, China and Africa will make a great contribution to humanity. This partnership is based on respect for the sovereignty and policies of each country. We work together to face today’s challenges.

Many issues have arisen in the world today. The Russia-Ukraine conflict, the Palestinian-Israeli conflict, terrorism, climate change, immigration and so on. China is partnering with African countries on solving these issues. Let’s work together, face the problems of poverty reduction and fine solutions together, bring peace to the world and maintain social stability.

In times of war, a country cannot develop, whether it’s a civil war or an international war. Therefore, as we said before, China is an indispensable partner. China will be the leader of many global initiatives to realize its potential and vision. Other countries will join hands with China, towards modernization and common development. This will all become a reality in the near future. China has great potential, and it will be the engine that drives the development of other countries.

Carla de Sousa: Yes, indeed. I think that with China’s support and with clear targets, Africa will be on the same page with China in this win-win cooperation. In this context, we have to narrow the gap in order to have a common voice. This means that African countries need to make a huge effort to reach China’s heights. China must help us to move up and closer to China. But in the meantime, there will be challenges, and attempts to sabotage our unity. If we can speak out together, we can resist that. I think the wisdom of the China-Africa cooperation model is, it doesn’t allow any destructive political forces to sabotage the globalization projects that African countries take part in, no room for any interference.

Once again, I thank China for this global strategic thinking, and thank China for thinking about us.

Jorge Bondoso: Today, China and African countries are making joint efforts in building economic and financial bridges, and the bridge of environmental protection.

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