My passion for Africa was ignited by films about the continent. While I was captivated by the allure and romance of places like Maasai Mara, the films stirred a mix of emotions within me. Despite its breathtaking beauty and rich endowments, Africa portrayed in the films seemed like a land entrenched in conflict and poverty—a place of primitive splendor struggling with the harsh realities of life.
Since then, Africa has held a special place in my heart. I firmly believe that its people deserve a better life and share the hope that they will one day be able to transform their circumstances, much like what we have seen in China.
That's why, when Chinese and African leaders convened in Beijing for the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), my expectations were high. And those expectations were not only met but also exceeded.
China-Africa Relations Elevated: Building an All-Weather Community with a Shared Future for the New Era
As an ancient Chinese poem aptly states, \"True friends always feel close to each other, no matter the distance between them.\" This sentiment encapsulates the enduring friendship between China and Africa, a bond defined by mutual support and solidarity.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has visited Africa ten times. For 34 consecutive years, Chinese foreign ministers have kicked off each new year with a visit to Africa, a tradition unparalleled in the annals of international diplomacy.
The Chinese people will never forget that it was the African brothers and other developing countries that \"carried\" the People's Republic of China into the United Nations and that they have always firmly stood with China in safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests in the international arena.
Equatorial Guinea, a country with a population of under two million, demonstrated remarkable solidarity when it donated 2 million euros ($2.19 million) to Wenchuan County in Sichuan Province, which was devastated by an earthquake in 2008. This act of generosity was followed by another donation of over 4.9 million Chinese yuan (about $690,000) in 2015 to build a China-Equatorial Guinea Friendship Primary School in Yunnan Province. These acts of kindness are testament to the profound friendship between China and Africa.
China's support for Africa is not a recent development. Even during China's period of poverty, it reached out to support Africa, as exemplified by the TAZARA railway project in the 1970s. Of the 50,000 Chinese engineers and technicians who went to Africa, 70 made the ultimate sacrifice for this significant undertaking.
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China's enduring commitment to Africa with a shared future post-summit
cgtn.com
