On Saturday, February 22, 2025, the 22nd China Conference took place in Tunis, bringing together over 100 participants from diplomacy, universities, and research institutes in China and Tunisia.
Held under the theme “Deepening Sino-African Cooperation to Lead the Modernization Process of Southern Countries,” the event was co-organized by the China-Africa Institute and the Higher Institute of Languages of Tunis (ISLT). Discussions focused on topics such as China’s poverty reduction experience, Sino-Tunisian cooperation, and how China’s modernization inspires broader Sino-African collaboration.
Highlighting the shared historical experiences and mutual support between Tunisia and China, Hichem Messaoudi, director of ISLT, remarked, “China, like Tunisia and the broader African continent, shares a remarkably similar history rooted in forgiveness, peace, mutual friendship, respect, and intercultural exchange, while embracing diversity.” He emphasized that Tunisia’s academic community is ready to act as a bridge to strengthen Tunisia-China and Africa-China relations, fostering deeper cooperation across various fields. The ISLT, he added, will remain a key gateway to solidify and enhance ties between Tunisia and China, as well as between Africa, China, and the Arab world.
Houda Hazami, a professor at the Higher Institute of Management, argued that China’s development model offers a blueprint for Southern countries. She described the Belt and Road Initiative as a golden opportunity for Tunisia, a nation that has, since 2011, sought to explore emerging and promising economic horizons to diversify its funding sources and build more balanced partnerships. Speaking at the forum, which saw participation from numerous Tunisian and Chinese students, she noted that Tunisia joined the Belt and Road Initiative in July 2018. That September, agreements were signed for three major projects in southern Tunisia: a movable bridge in Djerba, the redevelopment of the Zarzis economic and commercial hub, and a railway linking the Gabes and Medenine governorates.
With access to multiple funding channels—such as the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the African Development Bank (AfDB), the Silk Road Fund, the China-Africa Development Fund, and the China-EU Co-Investment Fund—Hazami concluded that Tunisia could leverage China’s model in high-value growth sectors like the Silk Road framework, digital infrastructure, cybersecurity, digital governance, smart cities, vocational training, and education.
Zhou Yunfan, vice-president of the China-Africa Institute, referenced the latest Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit, held in Beijing from September 4-6, 2024, which outlined ten partnership actions to deepen Sino-African ties and advance modernization in the Global South. “Research institutions and think tanks have a unique role in fostering mutual learning between civilizations, sharing governance experiences, and providing intellectual support for policymaking,” she said. Zhou highlighted that the China-Africa Institute has organized numerous seminars, international conferences, and over 50 collaborative Sino-African research projects, adding, “We’re also open to hosting African researchers in China.”
“Modernization is an inalienable right of all nations and a shared mission for China and African countries in pursuit of national development and people’s well-being,” Zhou stated. She pointed to the shared experiences and goals that have brought China and African nations closer, with both sides supporting each other in economic development and national renewal, steadily expanding their cooperation. “China and African countries must collaborate to promote a modernization process that is just, open, people-centered, diverse, inclusive, environmentally friendly, peaceful, and secure,” she concluded.
