AsofJune10,theMombasaNairobirailwayhadtransported1.38millionpassengersWANGTENGBeforetheBeijingSummitoftheForumonChina-AfricaCooperation(FOCAC),tobeheldinearlySeptemberthisyear,ChinesePresidentXiJinpingvisitedfourAfricancountries-Senegal,Rwanda,SouthAfricaandMauritius.ThiswasXi鈥檚fourthtourtoAfricaafterbecomingChinesepresidentin2013,indicatingthatChinaattachesgreatimportancetodevelopingChina-Africarelations.Hisvisitthisyearcoveredfoursub-regions,WestAfrica,CentralAfrica,SouthernAfricaandEastAfrica,receivingpositiveresponsesfromtheinternationalcommunity.
Fruitfulvisit
DuringhisAfricavisit,PresidentXihadin-depthexchangesofviewswithleadersofthefourcountriesonbilateralrelationsaswellasinternationalandregionalissuesofcommoninterest.Healsowitnessedthesigningofabout40cooperationdocuments.ItisinparticularworthnotingthatSenegalandRwandasignedtheMemorandumofUnderstandingontheBeltandRoadInitiative.SenegalthusbecamethefirstWestAfricancountrytosignaBeltandRoadcooperationdocumentwithChina.MauritiusalsoindicateditwillsignacooperationaccordwithChinaontheinitiativeatanearlydate.ThisshowsthattheBeltandRoadInitiativeiswarmlywelcomedandearnestlyexpectedbyAfricancountriesasitwillprovideanimportantplatformforChina-Africacooperation.
Intheirtalks,ChineseandAfricanleadersexpressedtheirstrongdesiretobuildanevenstrongerChina-Africacommunitywithasharedfuturethroughwin-wincooperation.Theyallagreedtoupholdmultilateralismandopposeunilateralismandprotectionism,andstoodforgreatersolidarityamongdevelopingcountriesforamorepeaceful,justandequitableworld.
PresidentXivisitsreceivedthehighestlevelofwelcomeinthesecountries.InSenegal,hewaswarmlygreetedbythousandsofpeopleholdingChineseandSenegalesenationalflagsalongtheroute.SenegalesePresidentMackySallusedtheProtocolHorseSquadrontowelcomePresidentXi,thefirsttimethishonorhasbeenbestowedonavisitingheadofstateinmanyyears.InRwanda,PresidentPaulKagameandhiswifepersonallywenttotheairporttowelcomePresidentXiandhiswifeandseethemoff.InSouthAfrica,PresidentMatamelaCyrilRamaphosaarrangedadayofffromhistightscheduleofpreparingfortheBRICSSummittomeetwithPresidentXi.InMauritius,PrimeMinisterPravindKumarJugnauthandhiswife,aswellashisparents(hisfatheristheformerprimeministerofthecountry)andnearlyalltheministersattendedthewelcomingbanquetheldforPresidentXi.
PresidentXi鈥檚AfricavisitandtheupcomingFOCACBeijingSummitarethetwomostimportanteventsofthisyearinChina-Africarelations.LeadersofthesefourAfricancountriesconfirmedtheirattendanceintheBeijingSummit.WelookforwardtoseeingChineseandAfricanleadersmeetinBeijingtodrawanewblueprintforChina-Africafriendshipandcooperation.PresidentRamaphosaofSouthAfricawillco-chairthesummitwithPresidentXi,andKagamewillattendthesummitinthecapacityofbothRwandanpresidentandchairpersonoftheAfricanUnion.SenegalandMauritiusalsosaidtheyhopedtoplaybiggerrolesinFOCAC.
PresidentXi鈥檚successfulAfricavisitachievedfruitfulresults.ItwasahistoricvisitforChinatostrengthensolidarityandcooperationwithAfricancountries,aswellasallotherdevelopingcountriesasawhole.
Africaasanimportantpriority
Fiveyearsago,PresidentXivisitedthreeAfricancountries-Tanzania,SouthAfricaandtheRepublicoftheCongo-inhisfirstoutboundtripaftertakingofficein2013.Duringthistrip,heproposedtheprinciplesofsincerity,realresults,affinityandgoodfaith,andtheapproachofupholdingjusticeandpursuingsharedinterests.ThesehavebecometheguidingprinciplesforChina鈥檚relationshipwithAfrica.Atthe19thCPCNationalCongress,theybecametheprinciplesguidingChina鈥檚engagementwithotherdevelopingcountries.
Afterbeingreelectedthisyear,PresidentXiagainchoseAfricancountriesforhisfirstoutboundtrip,whichshowsthatAfricaisanimportantpriorityofChina鈥檚diplomacy.AsdevelopingcountriesformthecornerstoneofChina鈥檚diplomaticwork,itisChina鈥檚long-termandfirmstrategicchoicetoconsolidateChina-Africafriendship.Inthepastfiveyears,undertheoutstandingleadershipoftheCentralCommitteeoftheCommunistPartyofChina(CPC)withComradeXiJinpingatitscore,andwithconcertedeffortsofChinaandAfricancountries,China-Africarelationshavemadetremendousprogressinthefollowingfiveareas:
First,China-Africastrategicmutualtrusthasreachednewheights.Inthepastfiveyears,thehigh-levelexchangesbetweenChinaandAfricahavebeenunprecedentedlyfrequentandpoliticalguidancehasbeenstrengthened.Morethan30leadersoftheCPCandthestatevisitedAfricancountriesandmorethan60AfricanleadersalsocametoChinaforvisitsorforinternationalconferences.Todate,Chinahasestablishedstrategicpartnershiporcomprehensivecooperativepartnershipwith24Africancountries.TheGambia,S茫oTom茅andPr铆ncipeandBurkinaFasohaveresumeddiplomaticrelationswithChina.
Second,China-Africapracticalcooperationhastakenonanewlook.ChinahasbeenthelargesttradingpartnerofAfricafornineyearsinarow,withthetradevolumereaching$170billionin2017.Meanwhile,China鈥檚investmentinAfricancountriesexceeded$100billion,up100-foldcomparedwith2000.Currently,morethan3,200Chineseenterprisesareoperatingonthecontinent.Alargenumberofstrategicprojectsrelatedtoenergyandresourcedevelopment,infrastructureconstruction,andthebuildingofindustrialparksandspecialeconomiczonesarenowmakingsmoothprogress.TheseincludetheAddisAbaba-DjiboutiRailway,theMombasa-NairobiStandardGaugeRailway(SGR)andtheHisenseIndustrialParkinSouthAfrica.AsthelargestinfrastructureconstructionprojectinKenyaafterindependence,theMombasa-NairobiSGRhascreatedmorethan46,000jobs,contributed1.5percenttothecountry鈥檚GDPgrowthandreducedthelogisticscostoftheregionbyupto40percent.Threeencouragingshiftsaretakingplaceinoureconomiccooperation:fromgovernment-driventomarket-driven,fromtradeingoodstoalsoincludemanufacturingcooperation,andfromengineeringcontractstocapitalinvestmentandoperations.
ChinahasbeensupportingAfrica鈥檚effortsinimprovingpeople鈥檚livelihoodtothebestofitsability.WhentheEbolaepidemicbrokeoutinWestAfricain2014,Chinawasthefirsttohelpbyprovidingassistanceworth750millionyuan($110million).Sofar,Chinesemedicalteamswithmorethan25,000membershavebeensenttoAfrica,wheretheyhavetreatedmorethan300millionpatients.TheBrightnessActionprogramlaunchedbyChinahashelpedmorethan7,000Africancataractpatientsrecovertheireyesight.ChinaalsodispatchedmedicalgroupstosomeAfricancountriestohelppreventandcontrolpestilenceandcholera.Since2016,Chinahasprovidedurgentfoodaidto18Africancountriessufferingfromdroughtorflooddisasters.
Third,China-Africaculturalexchangesandcooperationonpeaceandsecurityhavemadenewprogress.Culturalandpeople-to-peopleexchangesbetweenChinaandAfricahavebecomemoreactiveandthebondbetweenourpeoplehasbeencloser.Sincethe18thCPCNationalCongressin2012,morethan100culturalexchangeactivitieshavebeenheldandmorethan200culturalcooperationprojectslaunched.Todate,Chinahasestablished54ConfuciusInstitutesand27ConfuciusClassroomsin41Africancountries.In2017,atotalof628,300AfricantouristsvisitedChina,up4.4percentyearonyear;andmorethan1millionChinesetouristspaidvisitstoAfricancountries.
ChinaactivelyparticipatesinpeaceandsecurityaffairsinAfricaandsupportsAfricancountriesinaddressingAfricanissuesbythemselves.Ithasmadesomeunprecedentedmovesinthisaspect.In2015,PresidentXiannounced$100millionoffreemilitaryassistancetotheAfricanUnioninthefollowingfiveyearsattheUNPeacekeepingSummit,thefirstofitskind.In2013,ChinadeployeditsfirstsecuritytroopsoverseasfortheUN鈥檚peacekeepingmissioninMali;andtwoyearslater,itsentitsfirstinfantrybattalionforaUNpeacekeepingmissioninSouthSudan.ChinainitiatedtheconveningoftheSpecialConsultationinSupportoftheIGAD-LedSouthSudanPeaceProcess.In2017,theChinesenavalhospitalshipPeaceArkvisitedsevenAfricancountries,reachingdifferentpartsofthecontinentononemissionforthefirsttime,onthe鈥淗armoniousMission2017鈥漷oprovidefreemedicalservicesforlocalpeople.Inaddition,ofthefivepermanentmembersoftheUNSecurityCouncil,ChinaisthelargestcontributorofpeacekeepersinAfricaandthesecond-largestcontributortotheUNpeacekeepingbudget.SinceitbeganparticipatinginescortmissionsintheGulfofAdenandSomaliwatersin2009,Chinahassent30fleets,escortingmorethan6,000Chineseandforeignvessels.
Fourth,thejointdevelopmentbetweenChinaandAfricaisfacinganewopportunity.AfricancountriesregardtheBeltandRoadInitiativeasanewopportunityforexpandingChina-Africacooperation,showingastrongdesiretoparticipateintheinitiative.KenyanandEthiopianleaderscametoChinafortheBeltandRoadForumforInternationalCooperation.ChinahassignedBeltandRoadcooperationagreementswithnineAfricancountriessuchasSouthAfrica,Egypt,Madagascar,SudanandMoroccoandisnegotiatingwithmorethan20othercountriesonthecontinentonsigningtheagreements.China-AfricacooperationintheBeltandRoadInitiativehasseeninitialprogresswithabatchofimportantprojectssuchastheAddisAbaba-DjiboutiRailwayandtheMombasa-NairobiSGRcompletedorunderconstruction.TheBeltandRoadInitiativewillprovidebroadervisionandstrongerimpetusforthedevelopmentofChina-Africacooperation,creatingbetterconditionsandofferingmoreimpetusforpolicy,infrastructure,trade,financialandpeople-to-peopleconnectivitybetweenChinaandAfrica.
Fifth,China-Africasolidarityandcoordinationaremakingnewcontributions.ChinaalwayssupportsAfricancountriesinmultilateraloccasions,especiallywhentheUNSecurityCouncildeliberatesAfrica-relatedissues.AfricancountriesalsoprovidefirmsupportforChinaonissuesconcerningChina鈥檚coreinterestsandmajorconcernssuchastheTaiwanquestionandtheSouthChinaSeaissue.In2016,39AfricancountriesandregionalorganizationsannouncedsupportforChina鈥檚stanceontheSouthChinaSea.ChinainvitedAfricancountriestoimportantinternationalconferencesheldinChinasuchastheG20HangzhouSummit,theBeltandRoadForumforInternationalCooperationandtheBRICSXiamenSummit,andcalledforinternationalsupportforAfricandevelopment.ChinaandAfricancountriescooperatecloselyonimportantinternationalissuessuchasclimatechangeandthe2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopmentsoastofirmlyupholdthecommoninterestsofChinaandAfrica,andallotherdevelopingcountries,defendinternationalequityandjusticeandpromoteworlddevelopmentandprogress.
DaiBingDifferentvoices
China-Africacooperationisinlinewiththedevelopmenttrendoftheeraandpeople鈥檚aspirations.ItisspearheadingSouth-SouthcooperationandinternationalcooperationwithAfrica,andiswelcomedbythepeopleinbothChinaandAfricancountries,andbytheinternationalcommunity.EvidenceshowsthatChina鈥檚developmentwillbringmoreopportunitiesforAfrica鈥檚development,whileAfrica鈥檚developmentwillprovidegreaterimpetusforChina鈥檚development.Withwin-wincooperationandcommondevelopmentbetweenChinaandAfrica,therelativepowerofcountrieswillbemorebalanced.
However,therearesomedifferentvoicesonChina-Africacooperation,includingthoseofgoodwillandothersofill-intentionedsmearattacks.Fortheformer,Chinaalwaysacceptstheirsuggestionswithanopenmind;butforthelatter,theyareadvisedtoabandontheirprejudice,learnmoreabouttheconcreteresultsofChina-AfricacooperationandlistenmoretowhatAfricanpeoplesay.
Forexample,inrecentyears,someWesterncountriesignoredthefactthatChina-AfricacooperationhascontributedgreatlytoAfricanpeaceanddevelopment,andattributedAfricancountries鈥檇ebtissuetoChina鈥檚loans,hypinguptheso-called鈥淐hina鈥檚debttrap.鈥滱ctually,Africa鈥檚debtissueisnotcausedbyChina,ashistoricallyitisWesterncountriesthatshouldbeheldaccountable.Chinaalwaysfollowstheprincipleofmutually-beneficialandwin-wincooperation,attachesgreatimportancetotheeconomicandsocialbenefitsofcooperationprojects,takesintoaccountinterestsofbothpartiesininvestmentandfinancingcooperation,andsupportsAfricancountries鈥檆apacitybuildingtoimprovetheirownabilityofpayingoffdebts.Thisway,Africancountriescanimprovetheircapacityofindependentdevelopmentandrealizesoundeconomicandsocialdevelopment.ThishasbeenfullyrecognizedbyAfricancountries.
Agreatsummitexpected
Theyear2018isimportantforthedevelopmentofChina-AfricarelationswithnumeroussignificanteventsofChina-Africacooperation.FollowingPresidentXi鈥檚Africavisit,theFOCACBeijingSummitwillbeheldinSeptember.Currently,theworldisseeingincreasinguncertaintiesanddestabilizingfactors,theriseofunilateralismandprotectionismandtheemergenceofanti-globalizationforces.Againstthisbackground,itistherighttimefortheFOCACBeijingSummitasitisaimedtopromotehighleveldevelopmentofChina-Africarelations,andprovideanimportantopportunitytoenhancedunityandcooperationamongdevelopingcountries.
TheFOCACBeijingSummitwillbeanimportanteventthatwilltakestockofpastprogressandplanforthefuture.AttheCentralConferenceonWorkRelatingtoForeignAffairsheldrecently,CPCCentralCommitteeGeneralSecretaryXiJinpingreiteratedthateffortswillbemadetodeepenunityandcooperationwithotherdevelopingcountriessoastomakejointeffortsforcommondevelopment.ThesummitisseenasanimportanteventtoimplementXiJinping鈥檚thoughtondiplomacy,aswellasimportantdiplomaticactivityofChinaforfurtheringtieswithotherdevelopingcountries.ByhostingtheBeijingSummit,ChinawillstrengthencommunicationwithAfricancountriesforgreatervisionandstrategicsynergy,intensifythetop-leveldesignforthedevelopmentofChina-Africarelations,andpromoteChina-Africafriendshiptonewheights,withanaimtomaketheeffortsforanevenstrongerChina-Africacommunitywithasharedfuturespearheadthebuildingofacommunitywithasharedfutureformankind.
Itwillbeasummittofurthercooperation.The2018FOCACBeijingSummitwillintegratethejointbuildingoftheBeltandRoadwithAfricancountries,theUN2030AgendaforSustainableDevelopmentandtheAUAgenda2063withthedevelopmentstrategiesofvariousAfricancountries,soastoenhanceChina-Africastrategicsynergyandexpandcommoninterests.BasedontherealneedsofAfrica鈥檚developmentandthelong-termandsounddevelopmentofChina-Africacooperation,ChinawillputforwardnewmeasurestopromoteChina-Africacooperationinareassuchasindustrialcapacitycooperation,infrastructuredevelopment,trade,environmentalprotection,people-to-peopleexchanges,andpeaceandsecurity,soastocreatenewopportunitiesandaneweraforthedevelopmentoftheChina-Africacomprehensivestrategicandcooperativepartnership.
ItwillbeanimportantsummitthatwillbenefittheChineseandAfricanpeople.Whilecontinuingtopromotecooperationintraditionalareassuchasinfrastructuredevelopment,trade,financingandinvestment,medicalcareandhumanresourcesdevelopment,theFOCACBeijingSummitwillplacemoreemphasisontheissuesrelatedtopeople鈥檚livelihood.ThiswillbedonebyguidingChina-Africacooperationtofocusmoreonareassuchaspovertyalleviation,people-to-peopleexchangesandenvironmentalprotection,soastodelivermorebenefitstoAfricanpeople,especiallytheyouth,womenandchildren.ChinawelcomesalltheChineseandAfricanpeopletojoininthisgreatundertakingandsupportthemexpandingexchangesforbettermutualunderstandingandenhancedfriendship,sothatpeoplecanparticipatein,promoteandbenefitfromChina-Africacooperation.
Currently,thepreparationworkoftheFOCACBeijingSummitiswellunderway.ItisbelievedthatthissummitwillbeanewmilestoneinthehistoryoftheChina-Africarelationshipthroughjointeffortsofbothsides.
TheauthoristhesecretarygeneraloftheFOCACChineseFollow-upCommitteeanddirectorgeneraloftheDepartmentofAfricanAffairsoftheMinistryofForeignAffairsofChina
TheChineseversionwasfirstpublishedinChinaNewsweek**Commentsto
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