May 25 is the Day of Africa.

Sixty years ago when the flames of the national liberation struggle were spreading in colonial countries, the Organization of African Unity, predecessor of the African Union, was established for the purpose of ending colonial rule by the imperialists and achieving complete freedom and independent development of the continent on the united strength of the African people.

At that time, the organization was formed mainly with the 32 countries that achieved independence from outside forces’ colonial rule and later it played an important role in strengthening unity and solidarity among African countries, defending sovereignty, territorial integrity and independence and developing cooperative relations in all domains of politics, the economy and culture. As a result, many countries gained independence, the racist regime collapsed in South Africa in 1994 and democratic elections took place there and therefore Africa completely freed itself from all manner of oppression by the imperialists.

The Africans’ spirit of independence has steadily been carried on from one decade to the next and from one century to the next and demonstrated more powerfully in the efforts to build a free and prosperous Africa.

Today, the African people strive to achieve independent development and prosperity of their continent by making the most of conditions favourable for economic development.

Zimbabwe and Zambia recently agreed on jointly building a large-scale hydroelectric power station. The power plant is planned to be built in a 181-metre-high arch-type dam in a ravine nearly 54km from the Victoria Falls, or Mosio Tunya, on the River Zambezi on the border of the two countries. The power station is reportedly to be built and operated by the two countries for generating up to 2 130MW of electricity and power distribution is to be ensured jointly.

The Congolese government announced on March 23 a plan to set up an African artificial intelligence research centre. Its objective is reportedly to enable Congolese and other African researchers to intensify research on and diffusion of artificial intelligence for social and economic changes in the continent. The government is to speed up the establishment of the centre in close liaison with the UN African Economic Commission.

The South African President stressed the need to increase electric power production at a meeting on April 13. He said that the government would increase investment in the electric power sector and encourage power generation using such renewables as sunlight and wind.

Angola and Uganda held a joint committee meeting in Rwanda on April 17, in which the two countries discussed the issues of promoting cooperation in such fields as politics, diplomacy, finance, education and public health.

The African people will continue to struggle for independent development and prosperity by their continental efforts, holding aloft the banner of solidarity and cooperation.