Earlier this week, Southern University of Science and Technology (SUSTech) welcomed Mr. Zhou Yuxiao, a diplomat from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ambassador to the Forum of China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). He came to give the 221^st lecture in the SUSTech Lecture Series. He brought the theme report entitled “Forum of China-Africa Cooperation has become mature- meet Ambassador of the Forum face to face”.

Mr. Zhou Yuxiao is the ambassador of FOCAC. He is a former minister counselor of the Embassy of the People’s Republic of China to the Republic of South Africa, ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Libya,ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Zambia and Special Representative of the Chinese Common Market in Eastern and Southern Africa. Mr. Zhou Yuxiao has also held significant positions in the Chinese People’s Institute of Foreign Affairs among other high-profile institutions.

In the lecture, Mr. Zhou Yuxiao told the history of FOCAC to the audience. He said that Sino-African traditional friendship is deep and Sino-African cooperation is a vital strategy to realize the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation. FOCAC, a summit forum launched by the joint initiative of China and Africa, is a central case of China’s multilateral cooperation. FOCAC has expanded exchanges and cooperation between Africa and China in areas like trade, humanities, and security. The 2^nd Beijing summit of FOCAC was a successful example of diplomacy.

Mr. Zhou Yuxiao also analyzed the ways, interaction, and characteristics of China-Africa cooperation.  Also, he introduced the challenges faced by China-Africa cooperation under the new environment and the transformation of FOCAC. He has high hopes for the friends of China-Africa.

After the lecture, Mr. Zhou Yuxiao took many questions from students and faculty members.