BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday met with foreign leaders who are in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), with China elevating its bilateral ties with Botswana, Rwanda, Ghana and Sao Tome and Principe.
Xi met with Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi, Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, Rwandan President Paul Kagame, Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba, Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo, and Sao Tome and Principe's Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada, who is also in Beijing for an official visit.
Botswanan President Mokgweetsi Masisi
Xi and Masisi jointly announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries during their meeting.
Next year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of China-Botswana diplomatic relations. Both sides should firmly support each other and strengthen cooperation in the fields of industry, agriculture, mining, clean energy, education and health, Xi said at the meeting.
China and its African brothers get together again, aiming to connect the development of China, Africa and the world more closely and achieve fruitful results, he said.
Masisi spoke highly of the keynote speech delivered by Xi at the opening ceremony of the summit on Thursday.
The partnership action plans announced by President Xi in his speech to jointly advance modernization with Africa, including measures to open China wider to African countries, are exciting and encouraging for the African side, he said, expressing confidence that the vision outlined at the summit will surely be realized.
Masisi said Botswana is willing to take the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties to promote the development of bilateral relations.
Rwandan President Paul Kagame
At their meeting, Xi and Kagame announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Xi said China supports Rwanda in pursuing an independent development path, and is willing to deepen the exchanges of experience on party and state governance.
China is ready to enhance political mutual trust, expand shared visions, and jointly advance modernization with Rwanda, Xi said.
Sao Tome and Principe's Prime Minister Patrice Trovoada
During their meeting, Xi and Trovoada announced the elevation of bilateral ties to a strategic partnership.
It has been proven that Sao Tome and Principe's return to the China-Africa family of friendly cooperation fully aligns with the shared interests of both peoples, Xi said.
China will, as always, support Sao Tome and Principe in advancing national construction and economic development, he added.
Xi called on the two sides to explore cooperation in areas such as tourism, agriculture, fisheries, and infrastructure, so that Sao Tome and Principe can benefit more from the outcomes of the FOCAC summit.
Trovoada thanked China for its valuable assistance, saying the new initiatives announced by President Xi at the FOCAC summit will fuel the development of his country and Africa.
Sao Tome and Principe firmly adheres to the one-China principle, and hopes to further consolidate political mutual trust and boost partnership with China, he said.
The two sides issued a joint statement on establishing the strategic partnership.
Ghanaian President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
Xi and Akufo-Addo announced the elevation of China-Ghana ties to a strategic partnership during their meeting.
Xi said China is willing to strengthen the alignment of development strategies with Ghana and to continue providing assistance to the best of its ability to Ghana.
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China stands ready to expand cooperation with Ghana in the fields of agriculture, fisheries, energy, mineral resources and infrastructure, and hopes that Ghana will continue to offer relevant support and facilitation to Chinese enterprises and citizens, he said.
China supports Ghana in its work as a member of the United Nations Human Rights Council for the 2024-2026 term, and is ready to enhance strategic coordination with Ghana on international and regional issues, Xi said.
Noting that China has been Ghana's most trustworthy friend and partner for over 60 years, Akufo-Addo said Ghana hopes to further expand cooperation with China in the fields of electricity, mineral resources and new energy, and is willing to provide facilitation for Chinese enterprises.
Akufo-Addo expressed appreciation for President Xi's proposal of 10 partnership actions to jointly advance modernization with Africa at the summit, saying that Ghana is willing to work actively with China to implement these actions.
Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba
When meeting Mbumba, Xi spoke highly of the Namibian president's active contribution to the success of the summit.
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China is willing to work with Namibia and other African countries to fully implement the outcomes of the summit, promote common development and prosperity, and jointly build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future, he said.
Guinea-Bissau President Umaro Sissoco Embalo
China is willing to work with Guinea-Bissau to carry forward the traditional friendship, promote strategic cooperation, and safeguard their respective national sovereignty, security and development interests, Xi said during his meeting with Embalo.
Xi expressed the hope that the two countries will actively implement the outcomes of the summit and jointly advance the modernization of China and Africa.
Embalo voiced Guinea-Bissau's high appreciation and support for the Belt and Road Initiative put forward by President Xi.
For Africa, China represents the future and is a brother, Embalo said.
He said Guinea-Bissau stands ready to be a trustworthy friend and partner of China, and expressed the hope to further deepen the friendly exchanges and pragmatic cooperation between the two countries.
