Twenty-nine years ago today, on May 4, 1996 (March 17, 1996 in the lunar calendar), the "Connecting Africa" conference issued the Johannesburg Declaration. On May 4, 1996, representatives of African countries and relevant parties attending the ninth session of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development declared in the Johannesburg Declaration issued after the meeting with the theme of "Connecting Africa" that Africa is facing severe challenges, but at the same time it has unlimited potential. Through its own efforts and external help, Africa will become the "dragon of the 21st century". Delegates summarized the common difficulties faced by African countries, including the shortage of capital and non-risky commercial loans, bureaucracy and inefficiency, obstacles to transnational trade and investment, and insufficient government support for investment. Representatives of African countries pointed out that the irrational international trading system, heavy foreign debt burden and political instability have also aggravated Africa's difficulties. In particular, the declaration lists the gap between Africa and developed countries in infrastructure and science and technology, and points out that Africa's underdeveloped economic structure is seriously hindering its economic development and the inflow of external capital. The declaration also listed the backward situation in Africa's communications, water conservancy, transportation and construction fields, and put forward some improvement suggestions, including privatization, establishing a stock trading system in line with Africa's reality, and providing more attractive infrastructure conditions for African continent and external enterprises. Delegates believe that Africa is not a mess and hopeless. On the contrary, Africa has broad markets and attractions in agricultural products processing, clothing manufacturing, daily durable goods manufacturing and improvements in sectors such as communications, energy, transportation, construction and tourism. Because the processing of agricultural products mostly requires low-grade technology, low labor force and low investment in environmental protection, the natural conditions for planting and processing coffee, tea, sugar, cooking oil, fruits, vegetables and wood are also very superior. The declaration called on the international community, especially developed countries, to provide support for Africa's development, and welcomed the "Technical Assistance Plan for Africa" announced by UNCTAD and the decision of the United Nations to allocate 25 billion dollars to establish a fund to aid Africa.