From June 4 to 5, 2018, Professor Liu Jisen, Executive President of Institute for African Studies, GDUFS, attended at invitation the Shanghai Institutes for International Studies (SIIS) Forum on Africa 2018 which is themed “International Development Cooperation in Africa: Achievements, Challenges and Prospects”. The forum was co-hosted by the SIIS and Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF). Professor Liu also delivered a speech at the forum.

Yang Jiemian, Director of Academic Affairs Council, SIIS, hosted the opening ceremony. Chen Dongxiao, President of SIIS, and Haddis Tadesse, Chief Representative of BMGF in Ethiopia delivered the opening speech.

Xu Jinghu, Special Representative of the Chinese Government on African Affairs, delivered a keynote speech at the forum, introducing the concept of policy featuring sincerity, real results, affinity, and good faith that China has upheld in its diplomacy towards Africa, the prospect and preparations of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit, as well as China's opinions and stance on strengthening and improving international cooperation with Africa. Special Representative Xu Jinghu thought highly of the forum which provided a great platform where issues of strengthening China-Africa cooperation and improving international cooperation with Africa could be thoroughly discussed.

The forum also invited more than 20 foreign representatives from the United Nations, the United Nations Industrial Development Organization, the African Union, the African Development Bank, Ethiopia, Nigeria, South Africa, Zambia, Kenya, Senegal, Cameroon, Ghana and other African countries, 4 Special Representatives of the Chinese Government on African Affairs, as well as more than 30 Chinese representatives from the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, Peking University, Communication University of China, Shanghai University of International Business and Economics and other academic institutions.

Attendees had a thorough discussion on issues of international partnership with Africa, financing in Africa, safety in Africa, the “Belt and Road” Initiative in Africa, suggestions on FOCAC Beijing Summit, etc.

Professor Liu delivered a speech which was themed “To Build a New Pattern of Open Economy for the Establishment of China-Africa Community with A Shared Future”.