Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on China and Africa to deepen cooperation and spearhead the modernization of the Global South. Speaking on Thursday at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Xi emphasized that on the path to modernization, no country should be left behind.
“Let us rally the more than 2.8 billion Chinese and African people into a powerful force on our shared path toward modernization,” Xi said. “Promote modernization of the Global South with China-Africa modernization, and write a new magnificent chapter of development in human history.”
Strengthening China-Africa Relations
Xi reflected on the founding of FOCAC in 2000, describing it as a milestone in China-Africa relations. “Over the past 24 years, especially in the new era, China has advanced forward hand in hand with Africa in the spirit of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith,” he noted.
He proposed elevating bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China to the level of strategic relations. He also suggested that the overall characterization of China-Africa relations be elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
Modernization for All
Stressing that modernization is an inalienable right of all countries, Xi stated that both China and Africa are following their own paths to modernization. “China and Africa’s joint pursuit of modernization will set off a wave of modernization in the Global South,” he said.
Xi called for jointly advancing modernization that is just and equitable, open and win-win, people-centered, diverse and inclusive, eco-friendly, and underpinned by peace and security. He highlighted China’s readiness to deepen cooperation with Africa in various sectors, including industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade, investment, and green development.
Ten Partnership Actions
To jointly advance modernization, Xi announced that China is ready to implement ten partnership actions with Africa in the next three years. These actions will cover areas such as mutual learning among civilizations, trade prosperity, industrial chain cooperation, connectivity, development cooperation, health, agriculture, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, green development, and common security.
He also mentioned that China will encourage and support Africa in issuing panda bonds in China to enhance results-oriented cooperation in all areas.
“One-third of the world’s population lives in China and Africa. There will be no global modernization without the modernization of China and Africa,” Xi emphasized.
Reference(s):
Xi urges China, Africa to spearhead modernization of Global South
cgtn.com
