It was hosted by Zhejiang Normal University (ZNU), and brought together nearly 300 government officials, scholars and researchers, business leaders, media and NGOs from China and Africa. Its permanent secretariat will be based at the Institute of African Studies and the China-Africa Business School (CABS) of ZNU.

The following eminent personalities addressed the opening session of the Forum: Wu Fengmin, President, ZNU; Gong Zheng, Vice – Governor, Zhejiang Province; Jerry John Rowlongs, Former President of Ghana; Zhai Jun, Vice Minister, Ministry of Foreign Affairs, PRC; Essop Goolam Pahad, former in the Presidency, South Africa; Li Jiping, Vice President, China Development Bank; Nolana Ta Ama, Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in China, and Wei Jianguo, Secretary General, China Center for International Economic Exchanges.

Aim of CATTF 1 is to promote African studies; boost mutual understanding between China and Africa; expand common ground; serve Chinese and African businesses in both direction, and offer suggestions and policy recommendations for the development of Sino-African relations in the new era. It will operate under the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) as a regular mechanism and platform for dialogue between Chinese and African Think Tanks.

At the conclusion of deliberations, CATTF 1 issued a communiqué in which the participants from China and 27 African countries declared their belief that CATTF should be a shared platform and regular institution for dialogue and exchanges between Chinese and African think tanks in the new era, upholding the tenets of civil society participation, governmental support, frank dialogue and consensus seeking. CATTF will also seek to set up links among Chinese and African think tanks and scholars from other parts of the world with an interest in Sino-African relations. It will conduct dialogues, exchanges and studies on Africa’s political and economic situation, Sino-African relations and related issues, in a bid to promote mutual understanding, consolidate friendship, present recommendations and give a better play to the role of Chinese and African think tanks in boosting the comprehensive cooperative relations between the two sides.   .