API-Africa Experts Contributes to Beijing Democracy Forum

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Experts from the Africa Policy Institute were among the eminent speakers during the third "International Forum on Democracy: The Shared Human Values" which kicked off on March 20, 2024 in Chinese capital Beijing. Mr. Li Shulei, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, delivered the keynote speech that opened the forum that attracted over 200 experts from six continents. In his paper, “Democracy and Global Governance in a Multipolar World: Challenges and Opportunities for China-Africa cooperation”, the President and Chief Executive of the Africa Policy Institute, Professor Peter Kagwanja pointed out that:

“After the World War II, the US-led West imposed a hegemonic victors’ order over the rest of the world. The World Bank, the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the United Nations and other post-War institutions of global governance are neither inclusive nor democratic. As a result, a handful of powers, mainly Western, are on the table while the bulk of developing countries in Africa, Asia and Latin America are on the menu.”

The China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), Global Development Initiative (GDI), Global Security Initiative (GSI) and the Global Civilization Initiative (GCI) contribute to the building of a new type of international relations and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, Kagwanja said.

In his paper, “Empowering the Future: Leveraging Youth Engagement for Democracy and the Rule of Law in Digital Times”, the Executive Director of API-Africa’s China-Africa Center, Dennis Munene, argued that youth from diverse civilizations must be equipped with knowledge and skills and included in decision-making. “This will contribute to tolerance and informed discussion, enhance the resilience of societies and secure the future of human civilization”, he said. Democracy is a common value of all mankind, the forum concluded. The forum was hosted by the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee and the State Council Information Office, and co-organized by the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, the China Media Group and the China International Communications Group.