Political parties in Africa, China convene seminar to share development experience

2015-02-04 03:55:56             
ADDIS ABABA, Feb. 3 (Xinhua) -- Political parties from African countries and China have convened a seminar to exchange experiences that help driving socioeconomic development and prosperity in their respective countries.
The high-level seminar was held on Tuesday in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, bringing together delegations of the Communist Party of China (CPC), and representatives of political parties from African countries including Ethiopia, Rwanda, Namibia, Tanzania, Congo, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Zimbabwe, Sudan and Uganda.
In his remarks at the opening of the seminar, Ai Ping, representative of Chinese delegation, said the CPC carries out various forms of exchanges with over 80 political parties in more than 40 African countries.
"But, it is the first time for us to sit together on the African continent and discuss in-depth major theoretical issues," said Ai.
He said the seminar is important towards sharing experience and lessons in development so that inter-party exchanges can serve the respective parties' work and plans more effectively.
Demeke Mekonnen, Ethiopia's Deputy Prime Minister and the Deputy Chairperson of Ethiopia's ruling party EPRDF, said the cooperation between African political parties and CPC has been consolidating over time with a number of experience exchanges in many fields.
The successful changes in Chinese economic and political spheres are directly linked to the unreserved commitment and righteous leadership of the CPC, said Demeke, it is wise to draw lessons from the successful practice of the CPC.
"The China-Africa cooperation has been dramatically improving. More importantly, this partnership stems from our mutual benefits where we both are benefiting," he said. "And yet we need to further expand our partnership so as to maximize our mutual benefits."
Attending the seminar, Tanzania's ruling party Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM) Vice Chairman Philip Mangula said African political parties have a lot to learn from CPC.
He said Tanzania's CCM has been working closely with the CPC, whereby they have had several exchanges of high-level visits.
The seminar was held with expected outcomes of profound suggestions and the way forward towards strengthening the partnership and cooperation among the political parties.
One of the expected outcomes was to set up regular and continuous experience sharing mechanisms.

Political parties and the State in Development: Africa and China
Posted on February 3, 2015.
Addis Ababa, 3 February 2015 (WIC) – Deputy Prime Minister Demeke Mekonnen has called on African political parties to maximize efforts to improve the livelihood of their people.
A three-day experience sharing seminar between African political parties and Communist Party of China (CPC) kicked off here today under the theme: “The role of political parties and state in development in the contemporary world: A case of Africa and China.”
Deputy PM Demeke, who is also Deputy Chairperson of the Ethiopian People’s Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF), while opening the seminar said that “We all African political parties, in fact, need to exert our maximum efforts in order to improve the life standards of our people.”
EPRDF, with its developmental democratic ideological line has been playing crucial role in combating poverty so as to improve the livelihood of its people and realize the renaissance of the country.
The Front formulated its own policies and strategies that emanated from the objective reality of the nation, thereby ensuring the maximum possible benefit of the people, he said.
EPRDF also ensures active participation of the people in policy formulation, implementation and evaluation as well, he said, adding the Ethiopian people are part and parcel of almost all the decisions made by the Front since without ensuring public participation, any political and socio-economic efforts are futile.
Since Ethiopian Nations, Nationalities and Peoples have formulated democratic constitution in1995; remarkable changes have also been registered in building democratic systems, Demeke said.
The Deputy Premier said the seminar will help political parties taking part at the event to exchange experience on how political parties play their utmost possible roles in realizing political economic and social developments.
EPRDF’s Public and Foreign Relations Sector Head, Desta Tesfaw, on his part said the seminar is jointly organized by EPRDF and Communist Party of China (CPC).
According to Destaw, sharing experience among African political parties and CPC would help understand the socio-economic and political changes that are going on in the respected countries.
Some nine African political parties including, EPRDF, CPC, AU, ECA, relevant government officials and university intellectuals are in attendance of the seminar.