Onunaiju appointed into China-Africa Institute c’ttee

Director of the Centre for China Studies (CCS), an Abuja-based Think Tank, Mr. Charles Onunaiju, has been appointed as a member of the International Advisory Committee of the Beijing-based China-Africa Institute.

The institute, which was inaugurated in Beijing weekend, was founded following successful convocation of Beijing Summit of the Forum On China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in September, 2018.

President Xi Jinping, who launched an ‘eight major initiatives’ on collaboration with Africa in his opening speech at the summit, announced that China decided to establish the China-Africa Institute to enhance mutual learning between Chinese and African civilizations.

The establishment of the institute was listed under the “people-to-people exchange of the eight major initiatives.”

The International Advisory Committee, whose members were unveiled at the inauguration of the institute in Beijing, has 16 members drawn from China and Africa, which, according to the brochure of the institute, is composed of “former senior state leaders, eminent scholars and other notable figures from China and Africa and would serve for a period of three years, except where otherwise re-elected.

The advisory committee has the former President of Mozambique, Mr. Joaquim Alberto Chissano as chairman; the President of the prestigious Chinese Academy of Social Science (CASS) as vice president; while Mr. Charles Onunaiju, director, Centre for China Studies and active researcher on China-Africa relations was appointed member.

Mr. Onunaiju becomes the first Nigerian to be appointed to such top level of the international think tank in China.

The advisory committee will among other functions, advise on the strategic plan of the institute, research topics and policy research tasks by taking into consideration the key orientations and priorities of the China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership.