Exchanging ideas is the chief benefit of the President's Forum with Young African Leaders, says Mkhaitratt Mohamed Vall Mabrouk of Mauritania.

"The most interesting thing to me," he told America.gov, "is to share ideas with my colleagues from the different African countries and also to share with the United States ideas about the new vision for the international policy -- especially the relationship between Mauritania and between the African countries and all the developing countries and the U.S."

Mabrouk is among more than 110 delegates from 46 African countries attending the August 3-5 forum in Washington, which featured a special White House town hall meeting with President Obama on August 3.

"The most important thing of interest for me," Mabrouk said, "is to meet President Obama and share with him the ideas that we have about our countries, and we will learn from him what he has as new vision for the African countries."

Mabrouk, 35, is a civil servant who manages finances, purchasing and general administration in the office of the mayor of Tidjikja, an isolated area in the interior of Mauritania. The area is known for its high rates of poverty, disenfranchised youth and battles against extremism -- all challenges the mayor's office is attempting to address.

According to Mabrouk, the basic challenge facing Mauritania "is to really achieve discussion between the different political elements and to agree on the good way to real democracy."

During the forum, the participants will be introduced to American diplomatic, business and community leaders. The agenda includes a networking event with the Aspen Institute's African Leadership Initiative, presentations by Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson, and visits with officials at the U.S. Congress and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, and with leaders of nongovernmental organizations serving needs in civil society.

The forum is focusing on key themes of America's partnerships with African nations, including youth empowerment, good governance and economic opportunity.