Skills training programs enhance China's ties with Africa

Robin Mwanga, business information executiveof Malawi's national investment and trade center, who has taken a trainingcourse at the UIBE, says China's experience is of immense benefit to African nations.

"China's poverty reduction is often linked with the growth in manufacturing exports, supportive government policies, domestic infrastructure improvement and foreign investment. This is the way we would like to develop in the future," Mwanga says. "In fact, Malawi has already made a start by using the Chinese economic growth model to attract foreign investment."

To transform the economic pattern, increase people's income and establish pillar manufacturing, African countries such as Ethiopia, Rwanda, Chad and Angola are now eyeing the economic development model of China, which took more than 30 years to become the second-largest economy in the world.

The UIBE has held 11 human resource development programs this year involving officials from more than 60 developing countries; more than half of them are from Africa. There have also been seven multilateral and four bilateral training programs. Two of the bilateral programs were designed specifically for the governments of Guinea and Angola.

The UIBE will launch another four bilateral training programs for African countries this year, according to the university's international development department.

Man Xiaochen, program officer at the international development department of the UIBE, says cooperation of this kindis being recognized as a useful way for China to help African countries improvetheir capacity for self-development.

Resourse from China Daily  http://africa.chinadaily.com.cn/weekly/2013-05/31/content_16550646.htm