BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday met African leaders who are in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), with China elevating its bilateral ties with Cameroon and Libya.
Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye
China and Senegal are friends and partners on the path of national development and revitalization, Xi said when meeting Senegalese President Bassirou Diomaye Faye, who is also in Beijing for a state visit.
Xi said the bilateral cooperation has yielded tangible results and benefited the two peoples over the past years.
China is willing to work with Senegal to realize their respective modernization, and advance the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries to a new level, Xi said.
Xi said China is ready to deepen political mutual trust with Senegal, and continue to support each other on issues of their respective core interests and major concerns.
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China will continue to send agricultural technical experts to Senegal, support Senegal in building industrial parks, expand cooperation in emerging fields such as new energy, and help advance Senegal's industrialization and agricultural modernization, Xi said.
China and Senegal share similar positions on many major international issues, Xi said, expressing China's willingness to strengthen multilateral coordination with Senegal to jointly safeguard international equity and justice, as well as the common interests of developing countries.
As the fourth-term African co-chair of the FOCAC, Senegal has made important contributions to China-Africa solidarity and cooperation, Xi said, adding that China stands ready to work with Senegal to make the summit a complete success, jointly promote the modernization of China and Africa, and embark on a new journey of China-Africa relations.
Faye said Senegal and China have jointly implemented many successful projects, which have boosted economic development and improved people's livelihood in Senegal.
Senegal is willing to enhance cooperation with China in fields such as agriculture, industry, digitalization, vocational training and youth, and advance bilateral relations to a higher level, Faye said.
After the talks, the two heads of state witnessed the signing of bilateral cooperation documents in areas including the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, investment and economic cooperation, information and communication technology, human resources and green development.
The two sides released a joint statement on deepening bilateral relations and building a high-level China-Senegal community with a shared future.
Prior to the talks, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan held a welcome ceremony for Faye and his wife Marie Khone Faye at the Great Hall of the People.
Cameroonian President Paul Biya
Xi and Cameroonian President Paul Biya announced the elevation of China-Cameroon ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Biya's attendance at all previous editions of the summit demonstrated the great importance he attached to China-Africa friendship and cooperation, as well as his profound amity with China, Xi said.
China is ready to work with Cameroon to foster a more substantive and significant partnership and advance the bilateral ties to a higher level, Xi said.
He noted that China has always supported Cameroon in safeguarding national unity and ethnic solidarity, fighting terrorism, as well as achieving peace and development.
Libyan Presidency Council Mohamed al-Menfi
Xi and President of the Libyan Presidency Council Mohamed al-Menfi announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between the two countries.
China has a traditional friendship with Libya, and China's stance of supporting Libya's stable development and boosting friendly bilateral cooperation will not change no matter how the situation evolves, Xi said.
Xi said China supports Libya in safeguarding national sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity, and finding a path for peace, stability and prosperity through dialogue and consultation.
Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio
The FOCAC has become an effective mechanism for advancing practical cooperation between China and Africa and a fine example of South-South cooperation, Xi said when meeting Sierra Leonean President Julius Maada Bio.
He expressed the belief that with joint efforts from both sides, the summit will make new contributions to the modernization of African countries and the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future.
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Xi emphasized that China and Sierra Leone should continue to stand firmly together on matters concerning each other's core interests and major concerns.
China is ready to work with Sierra Leone to deepen cooperation in areas such as agriculture, infrastructure, resources and energy, Xi said.
He said China is willing to strengthen coordination with Sierra Leone under multilateral frameworks including the United Nations, jointly safeguarding the interests of Africa and the developing world.
Bio noted remarkable progress achieved in bilateral cooperation since his last visit to China, voicing hope for closer cooperation with China in agriculture, security and other fields.
He expressed gratitude for China's support in helping Sierra Leone fulfill its duties as the rotating presidency of the UN Security Council, and conveyed his willingness to enhance multilateral coordination with China on the international stage.
President of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo
China and Equatorial Guinea are good friends with bilateral relations featuring high-level political mutual trust, all-round pragmatic cooperation and profound people-to-people friendship, Xi said during his meeting with President of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo.
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China will work with Equatorial Guinea to firmly support each other, expand practical cooperation, deepen cooperation in defense and security, help facilitate the diversified development of Equatorial Guinea's economy, and open up new prospects for the comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between the two countries, he said.
Xi expressed congratulations to Equatorial Guinea as it will serve as co-chair of FOCAC from 2027 to 2030, and noted that the 2024 summit is committed to drawing up a new blueprint for China-Africa cooperation and marks a new milestone in the history of China-Africa relations.
Obiang said that based on profound friendship and mutual trust, the two countries have achieved fruitful outcomes in cooperation and maintained close coordination in international affairs.
Hailing China's contribution to world peace, Obiang said Equatorial Guinea is willing to further strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation with China.
Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema
During his meeting with Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, Xi highlighted the elevation of China-Zambia relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in 2023, and said that mutual trust between the two countries has continued to deepen and fruitful results have been achieved in mutually beneficial cooperation over the past year.
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This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Zambia.
Both sides should take this summit as an opportunity to jointly promote their respective modernization and usher in a new chapter of friendly China-Zambia relations, Xi said.
China stands ready to share development opportunities with Zambia, encourage more enterprises to actively participate in cooperation with Zambia in areas such as new energy, water resource development and electricity, and contribute to the industrialization process in Zambia and Africa.
Hichilema said he is pleased to have jointly witnessed the revitalizing of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway with President Xi, thereby carrying forward the friendship forged by the two countries' older generation of leaders and creating a new passageway for China-Africa connectivity.
Zambia is committed to deepening its comprehensive cooperation with China and continuously advancing the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries, Hichilema said, adding that Zambia welcomes more Chinese enterprises to invest in the country.
He said the Zambian side appreciates the outstanding leadership China has demonstrated in international affairs, and is ready to enhance multilateral coordination with China.
Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan
China is ready to deepen the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership with Tanzania to deliver more benefits to both peoples and pass on the traditional friendship from generation to generation, Xi said when meeting Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu Hassan.
This year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Tanzania.
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China is also willing to take the summit as an opportunity to push for new progress in the revitalization project of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway Authority (TAZARA) railway, and jointly improve the rail-sea intermodal transport network in East Africa, Xi said.
These efforts will help Tanzania become a demonstration zone for deepening high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and African countries, Xi added.
Xi emphasized that Tanzania is where China first put forward its Africa policy for the new era.
Citing the China-Africa Dar es Salaam Consensus jointly issued by Chinese and African scholars in Tanzania in March, Xi said it reflects the consensus among Global South countries on development path and philosophy.
The China-Tanzania relations are in line with the historical trend of development of the Global South, holding significant values and playing a leading role, Xi said.
Hassan said she believes that the Beijing summit will make new contributions to deepening friendly cooperation between Africa and China and significantly advance Africa's industrialization and agricultural modernization.
Noting that China is a trusted and indispensable partner of Tanzania, she said her country is ready to actively work with China to advance Belt and Road cooperation.
Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi
At his meeting with Mozambican President Filipe Jacinto Nyusi, Xi said that next year will mark the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Mozambique, and he hopes both sides will join efforts to carry forward friendship, deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, and add new substance into the China-Mozambique comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation.
China is willing to expand cooperation with Mozambique in areas such as infrastructure, energy and mineral resources, agriculture and digital economy, and support Mozambique's industrialization and economic diversification, Xi said.
Xi encouraged Mozambique to make full use of the outcomes of the FOCAC summit to expand economic, trade and investment cooperation with China and push forward their friendship.
He added that China supports Mozambique in combating terrorism and maintaining national stability, and stands ready to closely cooperate with Mozambique on multilateral platforms including the United Nations.
Nyusi said Mozambique firmly adheres to the one-China principle, supports China's position on issues concerning its core interests including the Taiwan question and the South China Sea, backs China's policy of "one country, two systems," and opposes groundless accusations against China over issues including human rights.
He said Mozambique hopes to deepen cooperation with China in fields such as economy and trade, agriculture, connectivity and security.
Mozambique highly appreciates the global initiatives and major proposals for improving global governance put forward by President Xi, he said, adding that Mozambique is willing to enhance mutual support with China on multilateral issues to promote the building of a more fair and reasonable international order.
During the summit, the two countries will sign bilateral documents in areas including the export of pigeon peas, macadamia nuts and cashew nuts to China, and news media cooperation.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed
China-Ethiopia relations are an example of friendly cooperation between China and Africa, Xi said when meeting with Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed.
For a long time, the two countries have firmly supported each other in safeguarding their respective core interests and opposing external interference, forging an unbreakable iron-clad friendship, Xi said.
China stands ready to take the summit as an opportunity to expand pragmatic cooperation between the two countries, and supports Ethiopia in leveraging its strength as a regional transport hub to establish a rail-sea intermodal transport network in East Africa, and building a demonstration area for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation between China and Africa, he said.
China is willing to enhance communication and collaboration with Ethiopia at the regional level as well as within the frameworks of the UN and the BRICS to jointly uphold international fairness and justice, Xi said.
Abiy said China's policies toward Ethiopia fully demonstrate equality and mutual respect, and the bilateral ties are mutually beneficial.
He added that Chinese enterprises' investments have made significant contributions to Ethiopia's economic and social development.
Ethiopia is willing to work with China to continue the firm mutual support, and promote their all-weather strategic partnership to yield more results, Abiy said.
Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema
Xi also met with Gabonese President Brice Clotaire Oligui Nguema.
The friendly and cooperative relations between China and Gabon have become a model for China's relations with Africa and other developing countries, Xi noted, adding that China is willing to work with Gabon to create an even brighter future for their comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
