Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong addresses the closing ceremony of the second China-Africa Youth Festival in Pretoria, South Africa, April 26, 2017. Liu Yandong on Wednesday highlighted the important role of the youth in the process of developing China-Africa relations. (Xinhua/Zhai Jianlan)

PRETORIA, April 27 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong on Wednesday highlighted the important role of the youth in the process of developing China-Africa relations.

In the course of evolving China-Africa relations, the youth have always played an important part, Liu told the closing ceremony of the second China-Africa Youth Festival here.

Noting that successive Chinese leaders have personally cared about and participated in exchanges between Chinese and African youth, Liu pointed out that large groups of Chinese youth have joined and supported Africa's national emancipation and construction endeavor.

As a dynamic driving force behind the deepening China-Africa cooperation, Chinese and African youth have also benefited from rapidly growing China-Africa ties, said Liu.

The Chinese vice premier expressed hope that Chinese and African youth will cherish the bonds and friendship forged at the festival and play a greater part in promoting the long-lasting China-Africa friendship.

The China-Africa Youth Festival is designed to enhance exchanges between Chinese and African youth and offer opportunities for them to forge bonds and friendship, which will go a long way toward strengthening China-Africa friendship.

Some 300 delegates from China and 53 African countries attended the second festival hosted by South Africa. The first such festival was held in China in 2016.