The People’s Republic of China President Xi Jinping says China stands ready to work with Africa to implement 10 partnership action plans to jointly advance modernization.
This he said while officially opening a three day summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on Thursday in the presence of about 52 African leaders.
He said one-third of the world’s population lives in China and Africa saying there will be no global modernization without the modernization of China and Africa.
He said the 10 partnership action plans, to be implemented in the next three years, cover the areas of mutual learning in particular civilizations, trade prosperity, industrial chain cooperation, connectivity, development cooperation, health, agriculture and livelihoods, people-to-people and cultural exchanges, green development as well as common security.
He then proposed that the overall characterization of China-Africa relations be elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
Again he proposed bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the level of strategic relations.
The other former Co-Chair of FOCAC and also President of South Africa Mr Cyril Ramaphosa thanked China for continuing to expand cooperation and collaboration in Africa.
He said FOCAC is valuable as it supports and upholds the African Union (AU) Agenda 2063 especially since the 10 plan of actions are in line with the said Agenda.
He emphasised that they must all work together to achieve Africa that they want and the world that they want.
Meanwhile Lesotho is among the 53 African countries that have established diplomatic relations with China. 2024 marks the 30th anniversary of China Lesotho bilateral relations.
FOCAC meets every three years, alternating between an African country and China, although the 2021 meeting took place online due to COVID-19.
Its major objective is equal consultation, enhancing understanding, expanding consensus, strengthening friendship and promoting cooperation.
Source: Lesotho News Agency (LENA) 5/9/2024
