On September 5, 2024, Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs, jointly met with Chinese and foreign journalists alongside Falilou Fall, Foreign Minister of Senegal (the current African co-chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation) and Jean-Claude Gakosso, Foreign Minister of the Republic of Congo (the incoming African co-chair). They briefed the media on the proceedings and outcomes of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. The full text of the speech is as follows:

The opening of FOCAC Beijing Summit this morning — a big friendly gathering of China-Africa family again in China’s capital after six years — is a major event with great significance and far-reaching impact. President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the Summit and delivered a keynote speech. Leaders from all 53 African countries with diplomatic ties to China and the AU Commission Chair attended, alongside the UN Secretary-General and representatives from over 30 international and regional African organizations.

During the Summit, China and Africa, around the theme of "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a Community with a Shared Future," reviewed and summarized the journey of China-Africa friendship, highly commended the progress in implementing the outcomes of the Forum, reached clear political consensus on strengthening all-round cooperation between China and Africa, and unanimously adopted two important documents: the Beijing Declaration and the Action Plan. All parties agree that the Summit is a full success with main outcomes in the following four aspects.

First, China has entered into strategic partnerships with all African countries having diplomatic ties with China. The foundation of China-Africa friendship lies in the solid bilateral relations between China and each African country. During the Summit, President Xi Jinping held bilateral meetings with all participating heads of state and key government leaders, engaging in in-depth discussions on major strategic issues. All members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and the Vice President of China also held intensive meetings with attending African leaders. During the Summit, China established or elevated its strategic partnerships with a total of 30 countries. China and 53 African strategic partners, standing shoulder to shoulder, will play a greater role in improving the well-being of the Chinese and African people, and safeguarding world peace and stability.

Second, the characterization of the overall China-Africa relations was elevated to an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era. As President Xi Jinping pointed out, China-Africa friendship transcends time and space, overcomes mountains and seas, and is passed down through generations. Thanks to nearly 70 years of concerted efforts, the China-Africa relationship is now at its best in history. During the Summit, Chinese and African leaders unanimously agreed to elevate China-Africa relations to an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era. From a new type of partnership to a comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership, and to an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era, the China-Africa relationship has kept reaching new heights, with clearer characterization and greater substance. This progress demonstrates the firm resolve of the over 2.8 billion Chinese and African people to share weal and woe and march forward hand in hand amid once-in-a-century transformation of the world, and opens a new chapter in the cause of building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Third, a six-point proposition on China-Africa joint efforts to advance modernization was articulated. Modernization is an inalienable and legitimate right of developing countries. How to achieve modernization and what kind of modernization to achieve are historical tasks facing the "Global South". President Xi Jinping made a six-point proposition for China and Africa to jointly advance modernization, emphasizing the need to achieve modernization that is just and equitable, open and win-win, people-centered, diverse and inclusive, eco-friendly, and peaceful and secure. This proposition is widely accepted by African leaders, and has become a political consensus between China and Africa. It marks the two sides’ deepening understanding of the rules governing modernization, and will have a significant and far-reaching impact on spearheading faster modernization of the Global South and advancing global modernization.

Fourth, a blueprint was drawn up for China-Africa cooperation going forward. The two sides adopted a Beijing Declaration and Action Plan for strengthening China-Africa cooperation in the next three years. President Xi Jinping announced ten partnership actions that China would take with Africa to advance modernization in the next three years. First, the Partnership Action for Mutual Learning among Civilizations. China is ready to work with Africa to build a platform for governance experience sharing, a China-Africa knowledge network for development. We will invite 1,000 members of African political parties to China for exchanges of experience. Second, the Partnership Initiative of Trade Prosperity: China announced unilateral market opening, granting zero-tariff treatment to 100% of product lines from African LDCs, transforming China's vast market into Africa's major opportunity. Third, the Partnership Action for Industrial Chain Cooperation. China will develop the Pilot Zone for In-depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation, launch an “African SMEs empowerment program” and build with Africa a digital technology cooperation center. Fourth, the Partnership Action for Connectivity. China is prepared to put in place a China-Africa network featuring land-sea links and coordinated development. We are ready to assist in the trans-regional development in Africa. Fifth, the Partnership Action for Development Cooperation. China is ready to implement 1,000 "small and beautiful" projects for public well-being and deliver more fruits of development to African people. Sixth, the Partnership Action for Health. China is ready to establish with Africa a hospitals alliance and joint medical centers, send 2,000 medical personnel to Africa, and support the development of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seventh, the Partnership Action for Agriculture and Livelihoods. China will provide Africa with emergency food assistance, build standardized agriculture demonstration zones in Africa and create at least one million jobs for Africa. Eighth, the Partnership Action for People-to-People Exchanges. China will implement with Africa more solidly the Future of Africa — Vocational Education Cooperation Plan, provide 60,000 training opportunities to Africa and designate 2026 as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. Ninth, the Partnership Action for Green Development. China is ready to launch 30 clean energy projects in Africa and establish together 30 joint laboratories for collaboration on satellite remote sensing and lunar and deep-space exploration. Tenth, the Partnership Action for Common Security. China is ready to build with Africa a partnership demonstration zone for implementing the Global Security Initiative and train military and police personnel for Africa.

I would also like to inform everyone that this Summit, for the first time, has held four high-level meetings. At the high-level meeting on governance, all parties highly commended the Third Plenary Session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China, and agreed that China and Africa should strengthen mutual learning and explore development paths suited to their respective national conditions. The high-level meeting on industrialization and agricultural modernization explored leveraging complementary strengths to accelerate shared and green development. The high-level meeting on peace and security offered valuable insights on promoting regional and global peace and stability. Discussions at the high-level meeting on high-quality BRI Cooperation have injected new momentum into strengthening physical connectivity, institutional connectivity, and people-to-people bonds between China and Africa.

During the Summit, China and Africa also conducted strategic alignment on the international landscape and global governance, unanimously agreed to firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests, safeguard the legitimate interests of developing countries, promote international fairness and justice, follow true multilateralism, advance the implementation of the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and champion an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization; agreed to reject “small yard, high fence,” oppose discrimination and prejudice, redress historical injustices, and ensure that all will benefit from the modernization process.

In summary, this Summit has sent a powerful message of China and Africa pursuing development together, and demonstrated the Global South’s unwavering confidence in unity and cooperation. The FOCAC “summit week” is a “Global South moment”, a highlight of the joint pursuit of a community with a shared future for mankind.

The China-Africa Entrepreneurs Conference will also be held tomorrow morning. The Conference will serve as a crucial platform for business matchmaking, injecting greater vitality into practical China-Africa cooperation.

We sincerely appreciate all delegates for active contributions to the successful hosting of the Summit! We appreciate outstanding contributions made by Senegal as African Co-Chair of the Forum. We congratulate the Republic of Congo on assuming the role of African Co-Chair of the Forum.

Here, I would also like to extend my gratitude to our friends in the media. It is through your diligent work that the positive energy of China-Africa friendship has been swiftly conveyed to the entire world. We hope everyone will continue to follow, support and actively report on the development of China-Africa relations. Thank you.