ALGIERS, April 14 (Xinhua) -- The first International Symposium on Civilizational Exchange and Mutual Learning between China and Arab African countries was held on Tuesday in Algiers, the capital of Algeria, with topics ranging from civilizational exchange to economic and trade cooperation.
In his address, Dong Guangli, Chinese Ambassador to Algeria, stated that the friendship between China and Arab African countries has endured for millennia, characterized by mutual respect, equality, openness, and inclusiveness.
In 2026, China and Africa jointly host the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, and the second China-Arab States Summit will be held in China. He hoped this symposium would build academic consensus for the upcoming summit and energize cooperation.
Abdelkrim Tafraghni, director of the Cabinet of the Minister of Higher Education and Scientific Research, said that Algeria and China value cultural exchanges and have sought to build a fruitful partnership. This event will provide an excellent opportunity to deepen cooperation and exchanges between the two countries in higher education, scientific research, media, and communication.
During the symposium, "Algiers Consensus on Strengthening Mutual Learning Among Civilizations and Cooperation in the Global South" was released, calling for respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity, cultural diversity, and multiple development paths, strengthening international security cooperation, and deepening global cooperation.
The symposium brought together more than 60 experts and scholars from universities and research institutions in 13 countries, including China, Algeria, and Egypt. Five institutes jointly organized the event, including Northwest University in China, the University of Algiers III in Algeria, and the Chinese Embassy in Algeria. ■