"The reason why I participated in the seminar sponsored by the Chinese government is to be better engaged in the development and transformation of my country." Mr. Boni Bukasa, Director of Testing, DRC Private Sector Subcontracting Supervision Agency, said earnestly during the debrief session held on the last day of the seminar.
From May 6 to 19, Seminar on Improving the Business Environment of the Democratic Republic of Congo was successfully organized online by AIBO with 42 participants from DRC. Consisting of 13 lectures and 5 discussion and interaction sessions, this seminar focused on sharing typical cases and experience of China in optimizing business environment.
Mr. Bukasa has never been to China. As he got to know more about the economic development in China since the reform and opening up, he understood better China’s recipe for success. Much impressed by the seminar, Mr. Bukasa was very excited and made a 10-minute video to tell what China is like in his eyes.
From a small seed to a giant tree
Speaking of China’s development process, Mr. Bukasa used a very vivid metaphor. He compared China before the reform and opening up to a“small and unknown seed”when the international society at that time paid little attention to China because it is by no means an easy job for China with such a large territory and huge population to achieve rapid growth. However, China has grown into a lush tree in 40 years since then.
More importantly, China, the giant tree, firmly believes that one tree does not make a forest. Only through win-win cooperation can the tree grow stronger. Therefore, China is ready to share the fruits of growth with the world and provide shade for people around the globe and jointly built the Belt and Road Initiative.
Mr.Bukasa is listening to the introduction of the speaker
In Mr.Bukasa’s point of view, DRC, the largest country in sub-Saharan Africa, is like a seed just as China used to be. China’s successful experience in development plays an important role in boosting the confidence of DRC in achieving its own growth. He said, " Although western countries also held similiar seminars, I feel more intimate to China because China follows the principle of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation and tells specific experience and practice with no reserve. " The seminar has become a soil for candid interaction and mutual trust between China and the DRC..
Mr Bukasa is raising questions
During the seminar, Mr Bukasa’s camera was always on and paid attention to the speakers and other participants. He took notes and actively asked questions during almost every Q&A session. Because of this, he gained a profound understanding of difficulties China met and achievements China made all the way since the reform and opening up since 1978. By participating this seminar, he drawn valuable experience for his country’s development.
Through the seminar, Mr. Bukasa realized that twists and turns are inevitable in the initial stage of national development. China "Crossed the River by Feeling the Stones" in the early stage of reform and opening up. At that time, the policy was "not only questioned at home, but also disparaged abroad." Mr. Bukasa said, "I appreciate the determination, confidence and perseverance of the Chinese nation. By virtue of solidatrity, China successuflly achieved its expected development goal. "
Mr. Bukasa also got to know that countries need to seek an independent path suitable for their own national conditions. During the introduction of the negative list of China's investment management, Mr. Bukasa was touched deeply. He said, "The root for the slow growth of many less developed countries is being colonized, particularly cultural colonization. Chinese leaders were clear about that, so they built barriers early to keep it out."
Stones from other hills may serve to polish the jade
Through the 14-day online seminar, Mr. Bukasa sincerely appreciate and admire China's development achievements. More importantly, he regarded the Chinese experience gained as a way to promote the development of the DRC. He hopes these valuable experience can be implemented in his country and optimize the business environment and revitalize the economy of DRC.
"This seminar is of great significance to participants of DRC. China’s experience introdued during the seminar led us to believe that through explorations like China, it is feasible for a nation to blaze a development path based on its own national conditions and characteristics. "
Participants of DRC Private Sector Subcontracting Supervision Agency are listenging attentively. Mr. Bukasa is at the upper right corner.
There is an African saying, " If you want to go fast, go alone, if you want to go far, go together". China, which is the largest developing country in the world, has been committeed to providing assistance within its capacity for countries in economic difficulties. As the headquarter of China’s foreign aid training, AIBO actively implements the concept of building a community with shared future for mankind. Through the platform of foreign aid training, it shares development experience and practical technologies with other developing countries, helps developing countries cultivate talents and enhance their capacity of independent development. In 2022, AIBO has successfully held Seminar on Improving the Business Environment for the Democratic Republic of Congo, Seminar on Parliament Personnel for the Democratic Republic of Congo and Seminar on Political Parties for the Democratic Republic of Congo. A total number of 115 participants attended the seminars. On June 23, Mr. Sun Zhonghe, President of AIBO, had a virtual meeting with H.E. Mr. François Nkuna Balumuene, Ambassador of the Democratic Republic of Congo to the People’s Republic of China. As President Sun pointed out, AIBO is willing to work with DRC to deepen exchanges and cooperation for mutual benefits in all fields, as well as help DRC transform resources to development advantages and reach the goal of becoming an emerging market by 2030.
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Online meeting with H.E. François Nkuna Balumuene
This year marks the 50th anniversary of the normalization of relations between China and DRC. We are very glad to see that after the seminar, participants of DRC have had greater confidence in taking a path which suits their national conitions and become better capable of proposing suggestions to improve business environment and economic prospect, which is in line with AIBO’s principle of “passing on fishing skills rather than handing out fish” in carrying out foreign aid training programs, and help to deepen the concept of "a China-Africa community with a shared future".
DRC is the second largest country in Africa with a terrotory of 2.34 million square kilometers and a population of 89.6 million. Along with Mr. Bukasa, we hope DRC, crowned with the reputation of "Central Africa gem" and "the world's treasure house of raw materials", can soon take off the title of one of the least developed countries in the world and embark on the path of national prosperity and happiness.
Hereby, our sincere gratitude goes to Counselor Xu Yuanjie, Secretary Hu Peng and Secretary Fu Zhaolong of the Economic and Commercial Office of the Chinese Embassy in the Democratic Republic of Congo for their great effort and strong support for the enrollment work of the foreign aid training during COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, we would like to pay high tribute to colleagues abroad for their contributions to the telling of China’s stories and the building of a community with a shared future for mankind!
