On August 18, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi hosted the Coordinators’ Meeting on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in virtual format.
Ethiopian Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, Demeke Mekonnen, delivered a speech on the occasion.
During the meeting, both the Chinese and African sides highly acclaimed the outcomes of the Eighth FOCAC Ministerial Conference held in Dakar last year and applauded “the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation” and the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the Nine Programs of China-Africa cooperation which he announced.
Wang Yi said that despite the evolving international situation, rising global challenges, and repeated external disturbances, China and Africa have stayed the course of enhancing solidarity and focusing on cooperation. Both sides jointly implemented the outcomes with good progress, which brought tangible benefits to the African people. Then Wang put forward a five-point proposal:
First, both sides should uphold the principle of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith, and strengthen unity and mutual assistance. China is ready to work with Africa to carry forward the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, practice true multilateralism and jointly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries.
Second, both sides should be committed to common development. China will continue to take an active role in Africa’s major infrastructure construction, continue to increase imports from Africa, support the growth of Africa’s agriculture and manufacturing industries, and expand cooperation in emerging industries.
Third, both sides should be committed to independence and jointly promote regional peace. China will continue to support African solutions to African issues, oppose external interference in the internal affairs of African countries, and oppose creating confrontations and conflicts in Africa.
Fourth, both sides should uphold traditional friendship and promote people-to-people exchanges. China is ready to overcome difficulties caused by the pandemic and help African students who previously studied in China to return. China supports think tanks, media, non-governmental organizations, youth, and women of both sides to strengthen exchanges and cooperation.
Fifth, both sides should adhere to openness and win-win cooperation to promote the sound development of international cooperation with Africa.
The two sides have reaffirmed their unwavering support for each other in upholding territorial integrity, sovereignty, security, and development interests. They reaffirmed the importance of the one-China policy.
Wang emphasized that fruitful China-Africa cooperation will add fresh impetus to global development, generate positive energy for world stability, and bring new hopes to people around the world.
China is confident that the China-Africa friendship will stand the test of time. It will continue to be the backbone of South-South cooperation and a fine example in international relations.
By Embassy of the People’s Republic of China in Ethiopia