Relationship in "honeymoon period", Beijing makes big commitment, UN hopes to "correct injustice"

On the morning of September 5, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) 2024 Summit took place in Beijing, China.

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit opened in Beijing on September 5. (Source: Office of the President of Benin)

In his opening speech, Chinese President Xi Jinping made several proposals to upgrade bilateral relations between his country and African countries that have established diplomatic ties with Beijing to the level of strategic relations, Xinhua news agency reported.

He affirmed his readiness to support Africa in building a "green growth engine", narrowing the gap in energy access, adhering to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and jointly promoting a global green and low-carbon transition.

Over the next three years, China pledged to provide $50 billion in funding, create 1 million jobs in Africa, and jointly launch 10 major partnership actions with the continent to promote modernization.

According to the leader, China and Africa's joint push for modernization will kick off this wave in the Southern Hemisphere and open a new chapter for building a community with a shared future for mankind.

Meanwhile, AFP news agency quoted Mr. Xi Jinping's statement affirming that China's relationship with Africa is at "the best period in history", and at the same time hoping to deepen the relationship between the two sides in the future.

According to China's state broadcaster CCTV , the FOCAC summit adopted the Beijing Declaration to build an "all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era."

52 African countries and the African Union have signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China on jointly building the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

At this summit, China and Africa established a "new positioning" in their relations and a series of important measures to jointly promote modernization, and outlined a new blueprint for the development of relations.

The forum will also adopt the Beijing Action Plan for 2025-2027.

Speaking at the FOCAC Summit, United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said that expanding relations between China and Africa could "fuel the renewable energy revolution".

Citing the lack of access to debt relief for African countries, coupled with resource scarcity, as a cause of social unrest on the continent, Guterres said China's initiatives to support Africa could spur a renewable energy revolution.

Besides, China's remarkable development record, including poverty reduction, will bring a lot of experience and expertise to Africa.

The UN chief said it was time to correct "historic injustices" against Africa and "it is absurd... that the continent does not have a permanent seat on the UN Security Council".

FOCAC 2024 takes place from September 4-6 with the participation of Chinese leaders and more than 50 African leaders and the UN Secretary General. This is the largest diplomatic event hosted by China in many years.

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