China-Africa relations and advance our cooperation in various fields to the greater benefit of our peoples.
During my visit, I will pay a visit to the headquarters of the African Union and deliver a speech on China’s approach to and position on advancing China-Africa relations and cooperation in the new era. I will have in-depth discussions with leaders of four African countries that I will visit on strengthening bilateral ties and extensively engage with local people from different sectors. I will address the World Economic Forum on Africa and exchange views with participating leaders of African countries on promoting bilateral relations and cooperation. And I will call on Chinese nationals and staff members of Chinese companies in Africa. I hope that my visit will further deepen the China-Africa traditional friendship, upgrade practical cooperation, enhance solidarity and mutual assistance and promote common development. I hope that through my visit, the 1 billion African people will strengthen their understanding that the 1.3 billion Chinese people are always their sincere friends and reliable partners and that China is ready to pass on the relay baton of China-Africa friendship to future generations together with Africa.
As an African proverb goes, if you want to walk fast, walk alone; if you want to walk far, walk together. The ever fresh friendship and thriving comprehensive cooperation between China and Africa deserve to be valued and cherished by our people. China will treat the African people with sincerity, strengthen solidarity, promote common development through win-win cooperation and realize our glorious dreams of great renewal at an early date.
Q: People often say that China-Africa cooperation enjoys great opportunities ahead. Where do you see these opportunities? What specific measures does China take to promote future China-Africa cooperation?
A: China is the largest developing country and Africa is the continent with the largest number of developing countries. Both China and Africa face the urgent task of developing economy and realizing modernization. Since entering the new century, China and Africa have seized the historic opportunities presented by the deepening of globalization, worked together and helped each other achieve win-win outcome. The relations between the two sides have entered a “golden period”. Both China and Africa have benefited a lot from China-Africa cooperation. China is at the critical stage of comprehensively deepening reform and speeding up the transformation of the economic development model. Africa, on its part, has also started its new path of seeking strength through unity and promoting development for renewal. China-Africa cooperation is thus faced with new opportunities of making great strides forward. During my visit, I will work with leaders of the African states and the AU, and Chinese and African business representatives in an earnest, practical and enterprising spirit to review the past experience, identify room for improvement and discuss new areas, channels and formalities of China-Africa comprehensive cooperation so as to upgrade our cooperation.
China and Africa will expand exchanges and cooperation in poverty reduction for common development. Over 100 million people in China still live below the poverty line. Africa is also faced with many difficulties and challenges on the road towards the Millennium Development Goals. China and Africa are committed to developing economy and improving people’s livelihood, which makes poverty reduction one of the highlights of China-Africa cooperation.
