Chairman Chen Song of Yewhing (H.K.) Holdings Co., Ltd. Elected Vice Chairman of China-Africa Business Council

On the morning of December 4, the third plenary meeting and the first session of the third executive board of the China-Africa Business Council (CABC) was held in Beijing, and a new leadership was elected. Yewhing Chairman Chen Song was elected Vice Chairman of the new leadership.

　　Launched and registered with the Ministry of Civic Affairs in 2006, the China-Africa Business Council (CABC), proposed by central government leaders during the then Secretary-General of the United Nations Kofi Annan’s visit to China, is a joint initiative between the United Nations Development Program (UNDP), the Chinese government and the private-sector China Guangcai Program. Its purpose is to promote Sino-African trade and investment under the South-South Cooperation (SSC) Framework. Guided by the principles of “Promote Cultural exchanges first, Uphold justice while pursuing shared interests, Achieve win-win cooperation”, the Council strives to boost cooperation and exchanges in economic, social and cultural areas between China and Africa. Former Vice Minister Hu Deping of the United Front Work Department of CPC Central Committee served as the first Chairman of CABC, while Zheng Yuewen, Vice Chairman of the All China Federation of Industry and Commerce and Chairman of the Board of Kerui Group, as the second Chairman of CABC. Vice Director-General of the United Front Work Department of CPC Qingdao Committee was the first and second Vice Chair of CABC. The CABC now boasts 605 members, with businesses spanning 51 countries in Africa and total investment in 38 African countries exceeding 9 billion US dollars.

　　At the helm of the newly elected leadership for the third executive board and the third supervisory board are Wang Licheng, Chairman of the Board of Huali Group, and Zheng Yuewen, Chairman of the Board of Kerui Group, respectively, with the latter also elected Honorary Chair of CABC. 28 members—Zhang Huarong, Chi Jianxin, Su Yuehua, Wang Li, Ruan Xiaoming, Xiong Peijin, Liu Daiwen, Hu Lijian, Zhang Youlai, Chen Lin, Zheng Gang, Wang Jiandong, Wang Xianmao, Wang Guidong, Wang Xiaoyong, Dai Quanhe, Sun Hongyu, Sun Zhiqiang, Liu Aisen, Li Xiaopeng, Shen Shaoping, Xiao Wei, Chen Xiuxia, Chen Song, Chen Shengde, Zheng Haosheng, Gong Wu, Yu Wenpin—were elected Vice Chairmen of CABC. Wang Xiaoyong remains secretary-general of CABC.

Wang Yongqing, Executive Vice President of the All China Federation of Industry and Commerce (ACFIC) and member of its Leading Party Members’ Group attended and addressed the meeting. Wang Yongqing, entrusted by the Leading Party Members’ Group of ACFIC, extended congratulations to the meeting and congratulated Wang Licheng, Chairman of the third Executive Board of CABC, and other elected leaders of the Board on behalf of Gao Yunlong, President of ACFIC, and Xu Lejiang, Secretary of the Leading Party Members’ Group of ACFIC.

       Wang Yongqing pointed out that over the past five years, under the strong leadership of ACFIC and CABC, CABC and its members have actively responded to and implemented the outcomes and agreements of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and the Belt and Road Initiative, and have carried out trade and investment activities of various forms across different areas and thus have played a pivotal role in the promotion of China-Africa trade and investment developments.

Zheng Yuewen, Vice President of the All Federation of Industry and Commerce, Chairman of the Second Executive Board of CABC, and Chairman of Board of Kerui Group, delivered a report on the work of the CABC and pointed out that the work of CABC has been nothing short of being “pragmatic, innovative and with highlights”.

       He hoped that under the new leadership CABC will continue to improve the functions of the council, strengthen the capacity of its secretariat, optimize the services for members, expand the range of services, build a service-oriented and professional international business council to push the work of CABC and its services to members to new heights so as to make new contributions to China-Africa development.

　　Wang Licheng delivered a speech on behalf of the new leadership. In his remarks, he said a good environment has been in place for CABC and its future development. Its work has continued to show a good momentum, which is a result of the efforts of the past leadership and all the staff at the secretariat. From here onward, greater achievements can be made by “digging up more precise business opportunities” and creating a new situation for China-Africa people-to-people exchanges so that the expectations of the central leadership of China, the All China Federation of Industry and Commerce, and our people can be fulfilled.

On the afternoon of December 4, the China-Africa Cooperation & Belt and Road Investment Forum was held and over 300 guests were invited. In attendance were representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, the Ministry of Commerce, the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, the All China Federation of Industry and Commerce, the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, the China Development Bank, the China-Africa Development Fund, the China-Africa Industrial Capacity Cooperation Fund, Bank of Communications, and Hengfeng Bank, and emissaries from Benin, Cape Verde, South Africa, Uganda, Kenya and Morocco, as well as representatives from member enterprises of CABC.

       The topics of the Forum centered on “policies and strategies”, “Business in Future”, “Opportunities in Africa”, “Financial Support” and “Law/Security” and respective discussions were held.

     During the Forum, an agreement on cooperation was signed between the China-Africa Business Council and the China-Africa Development Fund. An agreement on cooperation and a memorandum was signed by Benin Embassy in China, China-Africa Association for Friendship, UNAIDS Office in China, and Investment Promotion Association of Huairou District of Beijing.