2018 Annual Meeting of Chinese Society of African Historical Studies and "Belt and Road" Initiative and Africa's Urbanization Academic Meeting was held in Shanxi Normal University on October 29th. Wei Jianguo, President of Shanxi Normal University delivered an opening speech. Wang Zhichao, Vice President of Shanxi Federation of Social Sciences, and Li Anshan, President of Chinese Society of African Historical Studies, gave speeches respectively. After the opening ceremony, Li Chong, Counselor of African Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, and Zhang Xiang, professor from Nankai University, delivered keynote speeches respectively. Che Xiaomei, Dean of Department of History and Tourism Culture of Shanxi Normal University, was the host. Prof. Liu Jisen, Executive President of IAS, GDUFS, attended the meeting and delivered a keynote speech whose topic was "Agricultural Industry Chain Entry into Africa".

Wei Jianguo pointed out that China-Africa relation had been constantly strengthened with the promotion of "Belt and Road" Initiative. Wang Zhichao thought that Shanxi Province was supposed to support "Belt and Road" Initiative with action. Li Anshan encouraged young scholars to focus on African studies.

Li Chong reviewed the development of China-Africa relation, and highlighted that future development of China-Africa relation should be related to the idea of establishing a community of common destiny and "Belt and Road" Initiative.

Zhang Xiang summarized features of African studies in the new era and appealed to young scholars to make great academic achievements in African studies.

Five issues had been discussed, namely "Belt and Road" Initiative and Africa, African historical issues, African nations and immigration issue, Africa's urbanization as well as Africa's history.

Attending the meeting were more than 70 experts and scholars from more than 30 institutions and universities such as Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, University of International Relations, Beijing Academy of Social Sciences, Peking University, Wuhan University, Northwest University, Minzu University of China, etc.