OXFAM to launch Africa-China dialogue platform

OXFAM International in collaboration with its African Union office will on Wednesday launch a new “Africa-China Dialogue Platform” to strengthened the partnership between the two parties.

The launch will be held in the Ethiopian capital, Addis Ababa.

The platform will among others encourage and facilitate a constructive engagement and dialogue of citizens, policy makers, researchers and other stakeholders on the growing partnership between Africa and China.

“While African governments have committed to meet the target of investing at least 10 per cent of their national budgets to boost agriculture (as per the Malabo Declaration,) private investments can also play a constructive role,” noted a statement released by OXFAM.

Oxfam delegation discussed Africa-China partnership today with Sudan Ambassador 2 _AfricanUnion Winnie_Byanyima pic.twitter.com/MOCVicCzao

— Désiré Assogbavi (Assodesire) March 1, 2016

The discussions will aim at redeeming the agricultural sector among other development programs between Africa and China.

“The agriculture sector is critically important if Africa is to deliver food security for its citizens,” read the statement, adding that “it is central to Africa’s development path (which) currently generates 40 percent of Africa’s gross national product (GNP) and constitutes 40 percent of Africa’s exports and 70-80 percent of its employment.”

The platform will include discussions on major research under its Go-Out policy and growing economic relations with Africa through FOCAC (Forum for China-Africa Cooperation) and other China-African initiatives.