President Xi Jinping of China congratulated African countries and people on the start of the 35th African Union (AU) Summit on Saturday.
Xi noted in his congratulatory message to the AU Summit that this year marks the 20th anniversary of the AU’s founding and that the AU has remained committed to seeking strength through unity, actively explored a development path suited to Africa, facilitated significant progress in regional integration, and coordinated a concerted response from African countries to the COVID-19 pandemic over the past 20 years.
According to Xi, such measures have proven effective in maintaining peace, stability, and prosperity in Africa, as well as increasing Africa’s influence and status around the world.
According to Xi, the year 2021 saw a significant increase in China-Africa relations.
Noting that the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation’s (FOCAC) Eighth Ministerial Conference was held successfully in November of last year, Xi stated that he announced nine programs for cooperation with Africa over the next three years during the conference and that he, along with African leaders, expressed their unanimous support for building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.
Under the new circumstances, China stands ready to work with the African side to actively implement the FOCAC conference outcomes, further synergize the Belt and Road cooperation and the Global Development Initiative with the AU’s Agenda 2063 and the construction of the African Continental Free Trade Area, in order to steer China-Africa cooperation toward higher-quality and broader development, and to write a new chapter in China-Africa friendship, according to Xi. Enditem
Mazi Akachukwu Udoka, Obinwannem News / 06/02/2022
