The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Johannesburg is held on Dec. 4-5. It's the second summit since Nov. 2006. [Special coverage]
China-Africa cooperation has remained friendly for a long time, despite international changes. China and Africa have become a community of mutual support.
Institutionalization of China-Africa cooperation
Multi-polarization in the world has been inevitable. Developing countries seek a new geo-political and economic order.
The forum has promoted China-Africa friendship to enter a new phase that expands cooperation fields. FOCAC supports senior official meetings between the African Diplomatic Corps in China to enhance dialogue.
Rich results achieved
China-Africa political mutual trust has been enhanced with frequent high-level visits. China's Foreign Ministry works with many African countries in international affairs to defend their common interests.
There is pragmatic cooperation in the fields of economy and trade. China has significantly increased aid to Africa, especially in debt relief.
China-Africa investment is maintaining growth momentum. China offers concessional loans to African infrastructure projects, while opening the market to products from the most undeveloped countries.
The China-Africa Development Fund and special loan for small and medium-sized African businesses are expanding financing in Africa.
The China-Africa Friendly Actions and China-Africa Joint Research Exchange Program have boosted diplomatic ties.
China is breaking bottlenecks in underdevelopment of infrastructure and scarcity of talents for Africa. By June 2015, China has financed more than 3800-kilometers of railways and more than 4300-kilometers of highways.
China financed the construction of more than 200 schools, offering more than 7,000 government scholarships per academic year, and more than 100 multi-lateral and bilateral technical management training courses and senior official workshops for Africans. Beijing endorses African integration construction. China and the African Union has set up a Joint African Regional Infrastructure Construction Team, which fixes prioritized cooperation projects with Chinese enterprises and financial institutions. Beijing is working out an initiative on China-Africa Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Security to resolve regional conflicts.
Driving China-Africa cooperation to new highs
China is the world's largest developing country, and Africa is home to the largest number of developing countries in the world. Plenty of cooperation potential lies ahead.
African countries play an important role in China's independent foreign policy of peace by adhering to "sincere friendliness, equal treatment, mutual benefits, common prosperity, mutual support, close cooperation, mutual learning, and seeking common development."
Beijing has won favors with African governments and people. South African President Jacob Zuma said cooperation is boosting African development.
Beijing does not attach political conditions to assistance, nor does it interfere in domestic affairs of African countries. Cooperation is built on mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits. "China is a reliable friend of the African people," said Zuma.
China's economy has entered the new normal, while economic development of African countries has slowed down. Both sides should sustain strong growth momentum through cooperation. FOCAC could advance better bilateral ties under the new situation.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi earlier stated that Beijing would accelerate of African modernization, improve its public health system, while maintaining peace and stability in the region.
African countries expect diversified development to speed up modernization. China's industrial modernization has entered maturity and many of its industries have gone global. China and Africa can carry out international industrial cooperation.
Beijing is improving the African public health system. In 2014, the Ebola epidemic outbreak in West Africa reminded us that Africa can no longer wait to get a better health system.
Additionally, peace is the premise of development and stability. Beijing will enhance African capabilities for peace-keeping, anti-terrorism and combating piracy.
Both sides take this unprecedented opportunity to tap the political mutual trust and economic that can complement China-Africa relations.
Bilateral cooperation will focus on key areas including industrialization, agriculture modernization, medical and health, cultural and educational exchange, and peace and security.
The summit would outline new blueprints to inject vitality in China-Africa cooperation that signals hand-in-hand progress, win-win cooperation and common development.
