Fifty African experts — including university professors, directors of research institutes, and presidents of think tanks — participated in the seminar on Chinese-style modernization and African development, held from July 17 to 24, 2024, in Shaanxi Province, China. Upon returning home, some of them agreed to respond to our series titled “Three Questions to the Xi’an Seminar Participants.” Today, we speak with the representative of Liberia, Mrs. Caroline N. Wonokay.
Hello Mrs. Caroline N. Wonokay, you were Liberia’s representative at the Xi’an seminar on Chinese-style modernization and African development. Could you introduce yourself and share your impressions following this major meeting, which aimed to implement the six main objectives and ten actions of the strategic partnership between China and Africa?
Hello, and thank you. I’m Caroline N. Wonokay, Director of Policy and Planning at the Ministry of Agriculture of the Republic of Liberia. I represented Liberia at the Xi’an Seminar on Chinese-style Modernization and African Development.
It was an inspiring and insightful experience. The discussions deepened my understanding of how China’s modernization journey can inform Africa’s path toward sustainable growth. I was particularly impressed by the emphasis on agriculture, technology, and human capacity — all of which are central to Liberia’s development agenda.
The seminar showed that the China–Africa partnership can be a real driver of transformation when it remains practical, inclusive, and people-centered.
What proposals do you have for Sino-African cooperation that is closer to the people, especially from the perspective of southern Liberia?
From Liberia’s perspective, cooperation should focus more on improving lives at the community level.
We would like to see stronger support for smallholder farmers through agro-processing and rural infrastructure; more technical and vocational training for youth and women; and deeper people-to-people exchanges between our countries.
Also, digital innovation — especially in agriculture and education — can bring real opportunities to rural communities and strengthen the human connection between Africa and China.
What do you think of the Xi’an Reflection Group’s initiative to follow up on the seminar?
The Xi’an Reflection Group is a brilliant idea. It keeps the spirit of the seminar alive by allowing participants to continue learning and sharing experiences beyond Xi’an.
For me, it’s a practical way to turn discussions into follow-up actions, and Liberia looks forward to engaging actively in this ongoing collaboration.
Interview by Héribert-Label Élisée ADJOVI / Special Envoy to Xi’an