Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend and chair the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in early December in Johannesburg, South Africa. The remarks on developing China-Africa relations Xi delivered in recent years point the way for people to better understand China- Africa relations.[Special coverage]
1. China-Africa cooperation is comprehensive
Regardless of changes in the international landscape, China will, as always, continue to support and promote Africa's efforts to achieve peace, stability, prosperity and development, and strength through unity and participate in international affairs on an equal basis. China and Africa are enjoying wide-ranging cooperation. China attaches great importance to developing friendly relations with all African countries, whether they be big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor. China treats them equally and actively carries out mutually beneficial and win-win pragmatic cooperation.
——Xi's joint interview to media with the four other BRICS countries in Beijing on March 19, 2013.
2. Pioneering spirit is vital to improved China-Africa cooperation
The defining characteristics of China-Africa relations are sincerity, friendship, mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development. To maintain the vigorous development of China-Africa relations, the two sides must keep pace with the times and forge ahead in a pioneering and innovative spirit. During more than half a century, the two sides have always adopted a long-term perspective to find new areas of common growth, promoting China-Africa relations to achieve development. This kind of pioneering spirit to seeking solutions to different kinds of problems is vital to enhancing China-Africa cooperation.
——Xi's speech at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on March 25, 2013.
3. China develops relations with African countries under the principle of truth, practicality, amity, and sincerity
In the new environment, China-Africa relations have become more important with greater common interests. China will intensify, not weaken, its efforts to expand relations with Africa.
We will treat our African friends with truth, cooperate with Africa through practical ways, strengthen China-Africa relations with amity and solve problems with sincerity.
No matter how developed China is, China will always treat African countries as friends in adversity.
——Xi's speech at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on March 25, 2013.
4. The Chinese dream and the African dream
Our long-standing traditional friendship and close interests relations are not the only reasons which bind China and Africa together. So do the Chinese dream and African dream. The Chinese people are working hard to realize the Chinese dream of great national renewal, while the African people are committed to the African dream of gaining strength through unity and achieving development and rejuvenation. The Chinese and African people should further unite, cooperate and support each other to make our dreams come true.
——Xi's speech at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on March 25, 2013.
