At the fifth China-Africa Future Leaders' Dialogue, Somali Ambassador to China Hodan Osman Abdi emphasized the transformative impact of bilateral cooperation, particularly in poverty reduction and vocational training. Speaking to CGTN's Pablo Chen, she highlighted infrastructure projects and skill-sharing initiatives as cornerstones of progress across African nations.
Bridges to Prosperity
Ambassador Hodan credited China-Africa collaboration for critical infrastructure developments over the past three decades, stating: "When you have the right infrastructure, you are able to drive people, drive commodities, and drive development." She noted that ports, roads, and bridges built through partnership have directly contributed to wealth creation and regional connectivity.
Skilling a Workforce
The diplomat identified technical and vocational education as the "largest driver of skill transfer" between the two regions. With China's expertise in vocational training systems, African nations are better positioned to develop workforce capabilities aligned with emerging economic needs—a key factor in sustainable poverty reduction strategies.
