International participants at the conference Photo: Wang Zhou/CSST

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On April 16, the 4th Conference on Dialogue between Chinese and African Civilizations convened in Ismailia, Egypt, under the theme “The Modern Value of Classical Wisdom: Insights and Reflections from Ancient Chinese and African Civilizations on Contemporary Global Challenges.” The gathering brought together political leaders and scholars from China and a number of African nations. At the conference and during interviews with CSST, scholars agreed that shared commitment of both civilizations to inclusiveness and mutual trust benefits not only their own societies, but the world at large.

Appreciating, learning from each other

Ye Hailin, director of the China-Africa Institute (CAI) at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that the Conference on Dialogue between Chinese and African Civilizations has become a flagship platform for promoting people-to-people exchanges between the two sides. Over the past three years, its successful sessions held in China have earned broad recognition among Chinese and African scholars as a key venue for dialogue.  

“At this moment, academic exchanges are directly conducted between the two sides in Egypt, one of the most important cradles of the African and of humanity as a whole. It is noteworthy that we are on the bank of the Suez Canal, among the most important infrastructure connecting different parts of the world together. The canal has witnessed many dramatic and historical changes for the past century and a half. Today it will witness the common aspiration for dialogue between the two great civilizations of China and Africa. This conference has taken the very first step into the heart of the African continent—I believe such kinds of events will be crucial for further cooperation between Chinese scholars and African partners,” Ye said. 

Mohamed Saad Zaghloul, a professor and vice president of Suez Canal University (SCU), praised the conference’s significance, noting that its location in Egypt reaffirmed the country’s role as a key international bridge for East-West exchanges. “Egypt, with its strategic location and history, has long been the center of dialogues among different civilizations. In this sense, the convening of this conference holds particularly special meaning. As one of the organizers of the conference, SCU has played a pioneering role in supporting such dialogues between academic institutions and has been dedicated to intellectual stimulation among the largest and oldest civilizations on Earth.”

The history of exchanges between Chinese and African civilizations stretches back for centuries. Aisha Sani Maikudi, a professor of international law at the University of Abuja in Nigeria, remarked in the interview with CSST that China and Africa have long admired and learned from one another. In her view, the two civilizations are interwoven in terms of values, historical trajectories, and philosophical traditions. Their interactions transcend time and space. Through Arab traders, China and Africa made early contact, and along the ancient Maritime Silk Road, their exchanges were frequent and dynamic. During the Ming Dynasty (1368–1644) when famed Chinese admiral Zheng He visited parts of East Africa, he set the stage for future interactions, which have grown especially prominent in recent decades. 

Charles Onunaiju, director of the Center for China Studies in Nigeria, pointed out that despite the vast geographical distance, China and Africa have engaged in early, beneficial exchanges, creating a rich history of mutual learning spanning generations. Egyptians are known to have reached China by both land and sea from a very early period. Between the 7th and 15th centuries, industry and commerce thrived between the two sides, with China maintaining an openness to foreign trade and international exchanges. 

“Chinese sailors, who began to explore sea routes, cut through the Indian ocean and reached the east coast of Africa. China’s ancient trade with Africa made a dramatic leap, driven by large-scale seven voyages to Africa spearheaded by the Ming-Dynasty official Zheng He. This greatly expanded the Chinese understanding of Africa,” Onunaiju added. 

While notable differences exist between Chinese and African civilizations, certain shared values and commonalities stand out: the two are highly compatible and internally integrated. Hassan Ragab, executive director of the Confucius Institute at SCU, strongly agreed with this notion, explaining that both civilizations are deeply rooted in values of harmony, coexistence, and respect for diversity. Both have long, resilient histories characterized by adaptability and innovation. Both maintain rich oral and written traditions that pass down history and moral principles through generations. Chinese traditional thought, particularly Confucianism, advocates for “harmony without uniformity” and the pursuit of collective wellbeing. African traditional philosophy, such as “Ubuntu”—meaning “I am because we are”—emphasizes community, interconnectedness, and mutual support. The two philosophies resonate deeply with one another. 

“We can observe that both civilizations highly respect elders and ancestors as sources of wisdom,” Ragab said. “This strong sense of community and continuity fosters a spirit of responsibility and unity. Importantly, both Chinese and African civilizations have shown openness and inclusiveness throughout history, welcoming external influences while maintaining their cultural identities. This cultural openness enables them to thrive in today’s interconnected world and promotes mutual learning and cooperation.” 

An Chunying, a research fellow from the CAI, approached the topic from the perspective of early agricultural civilization. As she pointed out, both China and Africa are among the earliest cradles of agricultural civilization in the world. The emergence of agriculture allowed both sides to gain control over food sources, enabling the selective planting, cultivation and domestication of indigenous flora such as grasses and roots. This development gradually provided the essential material foundation for the development of human society. 

Milestones in China-Africa friendship 

Peter Kagwanja, president and chief executive of the Africa Policy Institute in Kenya, told CSST that shared experiences and similar challenges have continuously strengthened the brotherly bond between China and Africa as “fellow travelers.” Since the Bandung Conference in 1955, China has supported Africa’s national liberation movements across the continent. 

Mohamed Khalil, president of the Moroccan-Chinese Friendship and Exchange Association in Morocco, highlighted that Africa is the second-largest continent in terms of both area and population, following Asia. Despite its wealth of natural resources, Africa continues to face poverty, underdevelopment, and illiteracy, compounded by the historical plundering of its resources by colonial powers. However, Khalil emphasized that China has consistently supported Africa’s development based on the principle of mutual benefit and win-win results. 

Over the past decade of the new era, China-Africa cooperation has yielded significant results, with economic and trade collaboration gaining momentum and demonstrating remarkable vitality. Kagwanja noted that the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), established in 2000, has played a central role as an effective diplomatic tool. China’s investments in Africa have made substantial contributions to the national rejuvenation of many African countries and have created tens of thousands of job opportunities for local people. Thanks to China’s support, the “Great Green Wall” project in Africa has become a model for sustainable development. 

In September 2024, the China-Africa relationship entered a new phase when President Xi Jinping announced at the FOCAC Summit in Beijing that bilateral relations would be upgraded to “an all-weather China-African community with a shared future for the new era.” 

Khalil explained that over the past 25 years since the founding of FOCAC, China has become Africa’s leading trade partner. China exports electronics, machinery, and various industrial products to Africa, while importing oil, minerals, agricultural products, and timber from the continent. China has made substantial investments in infrastructure across many African countries, including roads, bridges, railways, ports, and power stations. 

In healthcare, Khalil continued, Chinese doctors have been deployed to numerous African nations, and hospitals and health centers have been established. In education, China has offered scholarships and training opportunities for African students in Chinese universities. In digital technology, companies like Huawei and ZTE have set up offices in several African countries, promoting cooperation in artificial intelligence, digital technology, and finance. 

“China’s experience in poverty alleviation and the modernization of its society through socialism with Chinese characteristics is a pioneering model from which African countries can benefit. African nations can develop similar approaches tailored to their specific contexts, drawing inspiration from the Chinese path to modernization without losing their cultural identities, political choices, or national uniqueness,” Khalil added. 

Source of wisdom for global challenges

Kagwanja further emphasized that the values shared by China and Africa—embodied in mutual respect and the aspiration for joint development—offer a practical response to the challenges of our time. This shared vision serves as a model to be emulated in a world striving for greater justice and sustainability. In the face of a Cold War mentality, hegemonism, and unilateralism, China and Africa, united as true friends in their pursuit of reform and modernization, have demonstrated a sincere and candid willingness to cooperate.

To address the evolving challenges of the world, the times, and history, President Xi Jinping proposed the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) in March 2023. “Unlike the hierarchical view of civilizations marked by arrogance and prejudice, the implementation of the GCI reflects China’s lucid, objective understanding of the way that different civilizations coexist,” Ragab stressed. 

Edited by CHEN MIRONG