“When Brothers Are of One Heart and One Mind, They Have the Strength to Break Metal”. That was the title of a strong sentimental statement at the Africa Day Reception by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang held in Beijing on May 25.
The occasion was a celebration of the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). Formation of the OAU was an epoch-making event in the history of Africa, and the start of a new chapter of African countries seeking strength and development through unity.
From struggles for national liberation to explorations for paths to modernisation, from combating Ebola to fighting COVID-19, no matter how the international situation has evolved, China has always been there for Africa. Sixty years on, China and Africa enjoy closer friendly exchanges, and leaders both from both sides visit each other regularly.
In the past decade, President Xi Jinping visited Africa four times, and two summits of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation were held. In the last six months alone, four African presidents paid state visits to China, and since the beginning of this year, more than ten African officials above the ministerial level have visited China. The Africa-China Poverty Reduction and Development Conference and the China-Africa Youth Festival were held.
China has remained Africa’s largest trading partner for 14 consecutive years. Together constructed and commissioned over 10,000 km of railway, nearly 100,000 km of highway, and an array of important infrastructure including airports, docks, bridges and power plants.
Early this year the China-aided project of Africa CDC was commissioned, witnessing a new landmark of high-quality, practical cooperation to the benefit of the people. These concrete deliverables have greatly promoted economic and social development and improved people’s livelihood in Africa.
China and Africa have championed multilateralism and upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China is a longstanding supporter of the leading role of the AU and Africa’s sub-regional organisations in resolving regional conflicts, and supports the African people in solving African issues in the African way. China has always supported Africa in playing a bigger role on the world stage, spoken up for Africa at the United Nations and on other multilateral occasions, and is the first country to explicitly support the AU in joining the G20.
Being the world’s largest developing country and the continent home to most developing countries, China and Africa need solidarity and cooperation more than ever. China wishes to work with Africa to safeguard each other’s legitimate and lawful rights and interests. China firmly opposes external interference in the internal affairs of African countries, and opposes stirring up confrontation and conflict in Africa. China supports Africa in meeting the security, development and governance challenges in its own way, and will promote the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa. China appreciates Africa’s commitment to its just position and to the one China principle. China is also prepared to further strengthen mutual support with Africa on issues concerning each other’s sovereignty, development and dignity.
The biggest developing country wishes to work with Africa to advance their respective modernisation with distinctive features. China will share all its experience in pursuing the Chinese path to modernisation, support Africa in following an independent and distinctive path of development, and synergise the Belt and Road Initiative and the Global Development Initiative put forth by President Xi Jinping, with the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the development strategies of African countries. China will work for faster delivery of the outcomes of the FOCAC Dakar conference, further mobilise sub-national and private-sector cooperation with Africa, and do more to help Africa accelerate industrialisation, localisation and economic diversification.
China will step up prompt strategic communication with Africa on major regional and international issues, and firmly support Africa’s just positions. The country will work with Africa to translate their shared aspirations into collective actions, and jointly defend the common interests of developing countries. China will give full support to South Africa in hosting this year’s BRICS summit and continue to encourage the G20 to bring the AU in as an equal member, to gather stronger forces for the unity and revitalisation of the developing world.
China will keep to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security, and work with Africa to implement the Global Security Initiative put forth by President Xi Jinping, help de-escalate the hotspot issues in Africa and the world, and promote global responses to non-traditional security challenges from food and energy security, climate change, natural disasters and infectious diseases. China supports improving the UN operations for peace and stability in Africa, and enhancing Africa’s capacity for countering terrorism and maintaining stability.
China will work with Africa to further strengthen exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations. China and Africa both have a splendid civilization. The two sides should continue to stimulate public interest in people-to-people exchanges, deepen cultural interactions, and foster new bonds connecting the hearts of their people. There is need to support stronger exchanges and cooperation between think tanks, media, private organisations, youth and women, and speed up cooperation in Africa under the Global Civilization Initiative put forth by President Xi Jinping.
