African delegation visits Chongqing

An African media delegation consists of 35 journalists from 31 African countries has visited Chongqing from Sept 6 to 10.

The southwestern municipality is the only destination outside Beijing following their tour for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation earlier. The Chongqing visit has been featured as part of the "@Chongqing @World" themed event, which is being promoted by the Chongqing Foreign Affairs Office.

On Saturday afternoon, the delegation visited the Mountain City Alley, a landmark in the city's Yuzhong district, to experience the local arts of long-spout tea pouring and face-changing of Sichuan Opera.

"It is really a cultural and historical place here," said Abubakar Harithi Bakar from Zanzibar Broadcast Corporation of Tanzania. "To do (experience the traditional tea art) like the Chinese do, makes me feel at home."

Later in the day, the group visited Chongqing Haifu Medical Technology Co Ltd to learn about self-developed medical technology and then went to Chongqing World Finance Center to enjoy the night view of the metropolis.

Francis D.N. Pelenah Jr. from Liberian Broadcasting System of Liberia said during his trip to Beijing for this year's FOCAC summit, a three-year plan supporting health, agriculture, education, technology innovation and green development in Africa, has given him the perspective that Africa and China are moving towards closer cooperation.

"To come to Chongqing is something amazing — the infrastructure, the architecture and everything… It is a mega city!" said Pelenah. "As a foreign media practitioner, these are the kind of stories that you want to talk about."

During the delegation's upcoming tour, they will visit the city's Dazu, Yongchuan, Jiangbei and Yubei districts , as well as the Liangjiang New Area, to further explore the city's historical and cultural heritage, and gain more insights into its advancements in modern technologies.

Located on the upper reaches of the Yangtze River, Chongqing boasts key geographic advantages as a strategic pivot in national development programs for China's western region. It is also a connecting point for the BRI and the Yangtze River Economic Belt.

Data from Chongqing Customs shows the total import and export trade volume between Chongqing and Africa from January to July this year exceeded 13.1 billion yuan ($1.85 billion). The main products include mobile phones, tricycles, minerals and raw materials.