RABAT, Oct. 26 (Xinhua) -- Africa has "solid foundations for becoming a pillar of growth and prosperity in the world," Prime Minister of Cote d'Ivoire Amadou Gon Coulibaly said Friday in Rabat.

Speaking at the opening of the 11th edition of World Policy Conference (WPC), Coulibaly highlighted the important progress made in Africa during the last two decades.

He cited an average annual economic growth between seven and ten percent, a reduction of poverty from 57 percent in 1990 to 35 percent in 2015 and reinforcement of democracy and individual liberties.

The WPC brings together top-level decision-makers, academics and opinion leaders from over 40 countries.

Founded in 2008, WPC is an independent organization which aims to contribute to improving all aspects of governance, with a view to promoting a world that is more open, more prosperous, fairer and more respectful of the diversity of states and nations.