Keynote speech by the top leaders of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (full text)
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, September 5th
Work together to promote modernization and build a community of destiny.
— — Keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation
(Beijing, September 5, 2024)
Chairman People’s Republic of China (PRC), Supreme Leader
Dear President Faye,
Dear President Ghazwani, the rotating chairman of the African Union,
Dear Heads of State, Government and Delegation,
Dear Mr. Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Dear Mr. Faki, Chairman of the African Union Commission,
Dear friends and distinguished guests,
Chun Hua Qiu Shi, old things are rich. In this harvest season, I am very happy to meet all the old and new friends in Beijing to discuss the friendly cooperation between China and Africa in the new era. First of all, on behalf of the government of China and the people of China, I would like to extend a warm welcome to all of you!
China-Africa friendship crosses time and space, mountains and seas, and is passed down from generation to generation. The establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in 2000 is an important milestone in the history of China-Africa relations. Over the past 24 years, especially since the new era, China has been working hand in hand with African brothers and sisters in the true and sincere concept. We are shoulder to shoulder and hand in hand in the century-old changes in the world, firmly defending each other’s legitimate rights and interests; In the tide of economic globalization, we have strengthened our bones and muscles, and achieved fruitful results to benefit hundreds of millions of people in Central Africa; In the face of great disasters and epidemics, we worked hard together and wrote a touching story of China-Africa friendship; We have always understood each other and supported each other, setting a new model of international relations.
After nearly 70 years of hard work, China-Africa relations are at their best in history. Facing the future, I propose that the bilateral relations between China and all countries that have diplomatic relations with Africa be upgraded to the level of strategic relations, and the overall positioning of China-Africa relations be upgraded to an all-weather community of China-Africa destiny in the new era!
Dear friends and distinguished guests!
Realizing modernization is an inalienable right of all countries in the world. The process of western modernization has brought great suffering to developing countries. After the Second World War, the third world countries, represented by China and Africa, achieved independence and development one after another, and constantly corrected historical injustices in the process of modernization. People’s Republic of China (PRC) is about to celebrate its 75th birthday, and is unswervingly promoting the construction of a strong country and the great cause of national rejuvenation with Chinese modernization. Africa is also experiencing a new awakening and making steady progress towards the modernization goal described in the African Union’s Agenda 2063. The dream of China and Africa pursuing modernization together will surely set off a global modernization upsurge in the South and write a new chapter in building a community of human destiny.
— — We should work together to promote fair and reasonable modernization. To promote national modernization, we should not only follow the general law of modernization, but also conform to the reality of our country. China is willing to strengthen exchanges of experience in governing the country with Africa, support countries to explore modernization paths suited to their national conditions, and ensure equal rights and opportunities for all countries.
— — We must work together to promote open and win-win modernization. Mutually beneficial cooperation is in the long-term and fundamental interests of all countries, sunshine avenue. China is willing to deepen cooperation with Africa in the fields of industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment, set a benchmark for building the "Belt and Road" with high quality, and jointly create a model for implementing global development initiatives.
— — We should work together to promote the modernization of the people first. Realizing people’s free and all-round development is the ultimate goal of modernization. China is willing to actively cooperate with Africa in personnel training, poverty alleviation, employment and other fields to enhance people’s sense of gain, happiness and security in the process of modernization, and jointly promote modernization to benefit all people.
— — We must work together to promote the modernization of pluralism and tolerance. Realizing the coordinated development of material civilization and spiritual civilization is the lofty pursuit of modernization. China is willing to have close cultural exchanges with Africa, advocate mutual respect and inclusive coexistence of different civilizations in the process of modernization, and jointly promote the global civilization initiative to bear more fruits.
— — We should work together to promote eco-friendly modernization. Green development is a distinctive symbol of modernization in the new era. China is willing to help Africa build a "green growth engine", narrow the gap in energy accessibility, adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and jointly promote global green and low-carbon transformation.
— — We should work together to promote the modernization of peace and security. Modernization is inseparable from a peaceful and stable development environment. China is willing to help Africa enhance its ability to independently maintain peace and stability, promote global security initiatives to take the lead in Africa, promote the benign interaction between high-quality development and high-level security, and jointly safeguard world peace and stability.
Dear friends and distinguished guests!
China and Africa account for one third of the world’s total population. Without the modernization of Central Africa, there would be no modernization of the world. In the next three years, China is willing to carry out ten partnership actions with Africa to jointly promote modernization, deepen China-Africa cooperation and lead the modernization of the global South.
First, the partnership action of mutual learning among civilizations. China is willing to build an exchange platform for China-Africa experience in governing the country and set up a China-Africa development knowledge network and 25 China-Africa research centers with Africa. Relying on the African Leadership Institute to train talents for governing the country, 1,000 African political parties were invited to China to exchange ideas and deepen the exchange of experience in governing the party and the country.
Second, trade prosperity partnership action. China is willing to take the initiative to unilaterally open its market, and has decided to give 100% tariff-free treatment to all the least developed countries that have established diplomatic relations with China, including 33 African countries, to become the first large developing country and the world’s major economy to implement this initiative, and to promote China’s big market as a great opportunity for Africa. Expand access to agricultural products in Africa, deepen cooperation in e-commerce and other fields, and implement the "China-Africa Quality Improvement Plan". China is willing to sign a framework agreement with Africa to jointly develop economic partnership and provide long-term, stable and predictable institutional guarantee for China-Africa trade and investment.
Third, industrial chain partner action. China is willing to build an industrial cooperation growth circle with Africa, focus on building a pioneering zone for in-depth economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa, and launch the "African SME Empowerment Plan". Co-build China-Africa Digital Technology Cooperation Center, build 20 digital demonstration projects, and jointly embrace a new round of scientific and technological revolution and industrial transformation.
Fourth, the interconnection partner action. China is willing to implement 30 infrastructure connectivity projects in Africa, work together to build the "Belt and Road" with high quality, and build a China-Africa interconnection network with land and sea linkage and coordinated development. China is willing to help the construction of a free trade zone on the African continent, deepen logistics and financial cooperation, and help Africa’s cross-regional development.
Fifth, develop partner actions. China is willing to jointly issue a joint statement with Africa to deepen cooperation within the framework of global development initiatives and implement 1,000 "small but beautiful" livelihood projects. Invest in the China-World Bank Partnership Fund to help Africa’s development. Support the hosting of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the 2027 Africa Cup, and promote the development achievements to better benefit the Chinese and African people.
Sixth, health partnership action. China is willing to establish a China-Africa hospital alliance with Africa to jointly build a joint medical center. We will send 2,000 medical personnel to Africa, implement 20 medical and anti-malaria projects, promote China enterprises to invest in drug production, and continue to provide assistance to the epidemic in Africa within our capacity. Support the construction of African CDC and improve the public health capacity of African countries.
Seventh, partner action to promote agriculture and benefit the people. China will provide 1 billion yuan of emergency food aid to Africa, build 100,000 mu of agricultural standardization demonstration zone, send 500 agricultural experts and build China-Africa agricultural science and technology innovation alliance. Implement 500 public welfare projects. Encourage Chinese and African enterprises to "go both ways" to invest and start businesses, leave the added value of industries in Africa, and create no less than 1 million jobs for Africa.
Eighth, people-to-people exchange partnership action. China is willing to further promote the "Future Vocational Education in Africa" plan with Africa, jointly build an engineering and technical college and build 10 "Luban workshops". Focus on African women and youth, providing 60,000 training places. Jointly implement the China-Africa "Cultural Silk Road" plan and the "Radio and Television Audio-visual Innovation Cooperation Plan". The two sides agreed to designate 2026 as "China-Africa Humanities Exchange Year".
Ninth, green development partnership action. China is willing to implement 30 clean energy projects in Africa, build a meteorological early warning business platform, and carry out cooperation in disaster prevention, mitigation and relief and biodiversity protection. China-Africa Forum on Peaceful Uses of Nuclear Technology was established, 30 joint laboratories were built, and cooperation in satellite remote sensing, moon and deep space exploration was carried out to help Africa achieve green development.
Tenth, build a partnership for security. China is willing to establish a partnership with Africa to implement the global security initiative, build a demonstration zone for initiative cooperation, provide 1 billion yuan of unpaid military assistance to Africa, train 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 police law enforcement personnel for Africa, and invite 500 young officers to visit China. We will carry out joint training and joint cruises between the Chinese and African armed forces, and implement the "Action to Help Africa Get rid of Landmines" to jointly safeguard the safety of personnel and projects.
In order to promote the implementation of the "Top Ten Partnership Action", the China Municipal Government is willing to provide 360 billion yuan of financial support in the next three years, including 210 billion yuan of credit funds and 80 billion yuan of various kinds of assistance, and promote China enterprises to invest in Africa not less than 70 billion yuan. China will also encourage and support non-parties to issue "panda bonds" in China and provide strong support for pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa in various fields.
Dear friends and distinguished guests!
In July this year, the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC) was successfully held, which made systematic arrangements for further comprehensively deepening reform and promoting Chinese modernization. This will further profoundly change China, and will certainly provide new opportunities and inject new kinetic energy into African countries and China and Africa’s dream of pursuing modernization together.
There is an African proverb that "people who go the same way are true friends". No one can be left behind on the road to modernization, and no country can fall behind. Let us unite the majestic strength of more than 2.8 billion Chinese and African people, walk hand in hand on the journey of modernization, help the modernization of the global South with the modernization of China and Africa, draw a brand-new picture in the history of human development, and jointly push the world towards a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress!
Thank you.