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On November 12, 2020, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi delivered a speech titled Building on Twenty Years of Proud Achievement and Opening a New Chapter in China-Africa Relations at a reception commemorating the 20th anniversary of the Forum on China-Africa cooperation (FOCAC).
Wang Yi said that twenty years ago, Chinese and African leaders gathered in Beijing to inaugurate the FOCAC. This opens a new era for China-Africa relations. Over the two decades, acting along the prevailing trend of peace, development and cooperation, FOCAC has established itself as a pioneer for cooperation with Africa, a champion of multilateralism and a prime example of mutually beneficial cooperation. FOCAC has come a long way in strengthening China-Africa solidarity and friendship, stimulating the common development of China and Africa, and strengthening the friendship between the Chinese and African peoples.
Wang Yi said that while the past two decades have been extraordinary for FOCAC, they have also seen the Chinese people strive for national rejuvenation and African countries pursuing strength through unity. In this great historical journey, China and Africa have always been for each other. We have shown the world that with hard work, countries that are still developing can build a better life for their people; and with self-reliance and exploration, China and African countries can find our own path to prosperity that suits our national conditions.
Wang Yi said the world is undergoing invisible changes in a century and COVID-19 is accelerating the evolution of the international order. How to ensure that China-Africa relations will catch the trend of the times and climb new heights? How to build on our achievements and further improve and strengthen China-Africa cooperation? How to enable FOCAC to face challenges and progress creatively? To answer these questions, China would like to share the following proposals with our African friends.
First, we need to strengthen solidarity and build a stronger community with a shared future. The new international circumstances we face today further underline the importance of this strategic decision. We must remain guided by the principle of sincerity, real results, friendship and good faith and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests. We must firmly support each other in safeguarding national sovereignty and dignity, in independently pursuing a development path suited to national realities, and in protecting legitimate development rights and jointly achieving national rejuvenation through joint efforts.
Second, we must jointly overcome the current challenge and build a China-Africa health community for all. China will continue to work with Africa to fully realize the results of the FOCAC Beijing Summit and the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19, with a greater focus on public health, economic reopening and improving livelihoods . China is firmly committed to making its vaccines a global public good. When vaccine development is complete and available for use, China will actively consider providing them to African countries in need to help ensure an early victory against the virus.
Third, we must pursue win-win cooperation to build a China-Africa development community for all. China will continue to support Africa in upgrading infrastructure, advancing industrialization and building independent development capacity. China welcomes the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area. China and Africa need to deepen free trade cooperation and better link industrial and supply chains. China is also ready to work with Africa on a strategic cooperation framework on climate change to tackle this challenge together.
Fourth, we must accept our responsibilities and work for a community with a shared future for humanity. China and Africa must firmly safeguard the central role of the United Nations in international and multilateral affairs, uphold the fundamental norms that govern international relations and uphold multilateralism, fairness and justice. We need to work together to address global challenges and participate in global governance. In doing so, we will bring about a fairer and more reasonable international order and an open, inclusive, clean and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security and common prosperity.
Wang Yi finally said that FOCAC is a valuable resource for China and Africa. China stands ready to work with Africa to ensure the Forum remains a shining example of China-Africa relations, make good preparations for next year’s meeting, take the global China-Africa strategic and cooperative partnership to a new level , strive for high quality in our cooperation and open a much brighter future for China-Africa relations.
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