On September 5, 2024, Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, joined by Foreign Minister Yassine Fall of Senegal, the incumbent African co-chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and Foreign Minister Jean-Claude Gakosso of the Republic of the Congo, the incoming African co-chair, met and took questions from Chinese and foreign journalists.
The opening of FOCAC Beijing Summit this morning — a big friendly gathering of China-Africa family again in China's capital after six years — is a major event with great significance and far-reaching impact, said Wang.
Under the theme of “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future,” the two sides took stock of the journey of China-Africa friendship, commended the progress made in implementing the outcomes of FOCAC, and reached a clear political consensus on strengthening cooperation across the board. Two important documents, the Beijing Declaration and the Action Plan, were adopted unanimously. All parties agree that the Summit is a full success with main outcomes in the following four aspects.
First, China has entered into strategic partnerships with all African countries having diplomatic ties with China. During the Summit, China established or elevated its strategic partnerships with a total of 30 countries. China and 53 African strategic partners, standing shoulder to shoulder, will play a greater role in improving the well-being of the Chinese and African people, and safeguarding world peace and stability.
Second, the characterization of the overall China-Africa relations was elevated to an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era. Thanks to nearly 70 years of concerted efforts, the China-Africa relationship is now at its best in history. From a new type of partnership to a comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership, and to an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era, the China-Africa relationship has kept reaching new heights, with clearer characterization and greater substance. This progress demonstrates the firm resolve of the over 2.8 billion Chinese and African people to share weal and woe and march forward hand in hand amid once-in-a-century transformation of the world, and opens a new chapter in the cause of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
Third, a six-point proposition on China-Africa joint efforts to advance modernization was articulated. President Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Africa should advance modernization that is just and equitable, that is open and win-win, that puts the people first, that features diversity and inclusiveness, that is eco-friendly, and that is underpinned by peace and security. This proposition is widely accepted by African leaders, and has become a political consensus between China and Africa. It marks the two sides’ deepening understanding of the rules governing modernization, and will have a significant and far-reaching impact on spearheading faster modernization of the Global South and advancing global modernization.
Fourth, a blueprint was drawn up for China-Africa cooperation going forward. The two sides adopted a Beijing Declaration and Action Plan for strengthening China-Africa cooperation in the next three years. President Xi Jinping announced ten partnership actions that China would take with Africa to advance modernization in the next three years, covering the areas of mutual learning among civilizations, trade prosperity, industrial chain cooperation, connectivity, development cooperation, health, agriculture and livelihoods, people-to-people exchanges, green development, and common security.
Wang stressed that during the Summit the two sides also had strategic communication on the international situation and global governance. The two sides agreed to firmly support each other on issues involving their respective core interests, defend the common interests of developing countries, and promote international fairness and justice. The two sides agreed to follow true multilateralism, implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and champion an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. The two sides agreed to reject “small yard, high fence,” oppose discrimination and prejudice, redress historical injustices, and ensure that all will benefit from the modernization process. The Summit has sent a powerful message of China and Africa pursuing development together, and demonstrated the Global South’s unwavering confidence in unity and cooperation. The FOCAC “summit week” is a “Global South moment,” a highlight of the joint pursuit of a community with a shared future for mankind.
Fall and Gakosso noted that cooperation with China benefits almost all African countries and covers all areas. Such cooperation has enabled Africa to move faster toward modernization, changing the destiny of many on the continent. It will set an example for international cooperation and leave its mark on history. The African side speaks highly of the implementation of the outcomes of the Eighth FOCAC Ministerial Conference, and highly commends the new proposals and measures for Africa-China cooperation announced by President Xi Jinping and the leadership China exercises in hosting the Summit. The Summit, giving full expression to the mutual understanding, affinity, solidarity, coordination and mutually beneficial cooperation between Africa and China, has been a full success. Africa is ready to work with China to follow up on the outcomes of the Summit and the consensus reached by the two sides to deepen Africa-China friendship and achieve development and prosperity together.
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