On July 9th, the 5th China Africa Local Government Cooperation Forum was held in Guangzhou. Liu Guozhong, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council, attended the opening ceremony and delivered a speech.
Liu Guozhong stated that China and Africa have always been good friends, good partners, and good brothers who share weal and woe.  
Liu Guozhong pointed out that the current world is intertwined with turmoil, and the century long changes are accelerating. China and Africa need to strengthen unity and cooperation more than ever before. Local governments in China and Africa should work together to achieve common development and prosperity. Both sides should adhere to equal treatment and increase the exchange of experiences; Adhere to mutual benefit and win-win, expand the dimensions of open cooperation; Adhere to innovation driven approach and accelerate the speed of green transformation; Adhere to inclusiveness and mutual learning, and promote the heat of cultural exchanges.
Liu Guozhong stressed that China is comprehensively promoting the great cause of building a strong country and national rejuvenation with Chinese path to modernization, and is willing to provide new opportunities for the African side with its new development, and promote the high-quality joint construction of the "the Belt and Road", the global development initiative, the global security initiative, the global civilization initiative, the African Union's 2063 Agenda, and the development strategies of African countries to work together to promote modernization.
This forum is jointly hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the People's Government of Guangdong Province. Approximately 350 political leaders from African countries, leaders of local governments in Central and Africa, and relevant institutions attended.
Liu Guozhong also met with Madagascar's Prime Minister N'Tsai and Uganda's Third Deputy Prime Minister Nakadama who attended the forum.