Xi's speech at FOCAC opening ceremony inspires greater optimism among attendees

Chinese President Xi Jinping's keynote address at the opening ceremony of the 2024 summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has sent out an inspiring and encouraging message to the African continent which has raised optimism about the promising future between the two sides, according to attendees.

During his address, Xi said the China-Africa relationship is now at its best in history thanks to nearly 70 years of tireless efforts from both sides, and said China and Africa's joint pursuit of modernization will set off a wave of modernization in the Global South, and open a new chapter in the drive for a community with a shared future for mankind.

Xi's speech struck a chord with the attendees, with many hailing China for its efforts to form closer ties and aspire for mutual development with Africa.

"The speech of President Xi was fully inspiring and shows how much China cares about African countries, about making the cooperation and development more and more strong together," said Ahmed Mustafa Fahmy Hafez, head of the League of Arab States' China representative office.

"He's very visionary and solid. We appreciate his efforts to support our continent," said Mapolao Rosemary Mokoena, director of infrastructure at the Southern African Development Community Secretariat.

"His speech brims with energy and hope," said Jean-Baptiste Mawule, a member of the delegation of Benin.

In Xi's speech, he highlighted the enduring China-Africa friendship, which he said serves as a "stellar example" of a new type of international relations.

"China has advanced forward hand in hand with our African brothers and sisters in the spirit of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith. We always empathize with and support each other, setting a stellar example of a new type of international relations," said Xi.

Many attendees believe that this relationship between China and Africa lays a strong foundation to further boost cooperation between the two sides.

"We need to take our destiny in our hands. I think it is a win-win cooperation and we are willing to work with China," said Mawule.

"This partnership is really positive for the past 20 years. He's really leading, and he has some excellent ideas [about] how the Global South can come together as one force. [He has made] expressions that is quite sincere about what he wants to do with Africa," said Lacina Kone, director general and CEO of Smart Africa, an alliance aimed at accelerating socioeconomic development across the African continent.

In Xi's address, he pledged that China stands ready to work with Africa to implement 10 partnership action plans in the next three years to jointly advance modernization. "The 10 important points [Partnership Action Plans] that he raised today, the agenda for African-China cooperation was very, very impressive and very, very clear and gives a good impression of the desire and commitment of China to the African relationship," said Abdullah Lossennee Kamara, member of the delegation of Liberia.

The 10 action plans will cover the areas of mutual learning among civilizations, trade prosperity, industrial chain cooperation, connectivity, development cooperation, health, agriculture and livelihood, cultural and people-to-people exchanges, green development, and common security.

"In the next three years, China will work with Africa to take the following ten partnership actions for modernization to deepen China-Africa cooperation and spearhead the Global South modernization," said the Chinese president.

Xi's speech has also filled attendees with greater anticipation about the future cooperation between China and their countries.

"I think he's a really amazing leader, looking at what he has done with China, especially in terms of strengthening the investment and trade relations between Namibia and China already, taking advantage of the Belt and Road Initiative that is currently running," said Seima-Ndapewa Namutuwa, member of the delegation of Namibia.

"We were expecting something like that, win and win. So it's that kind of cooperation we are waiting for Africa, and especially for Congo," said Kabongo lumbaya Michel, member of the delegation of Democratic Republic of the Congo.

Noting that the Chinese and Africans are friends with a shared destiny, Assane Mbengue, head of the China-Africa Friendship Association in Senegal, hopes that the China-Africa friendship will reach even greater heights.

"This is a good start and the cooperation will grow, as President Xi is willing to open roads to Africa. We are friends, we are brothers, and as Xi says: in Africa, in China, we have a common destiny. Therefore, I hope that the friendship between China and Africa can reach new heights," said Mbengue.

Xi stressed that China and Africa account for one-third of the world population, and called on the two sides to unite towards a brighter future.

"Let us rally the more than 2.8 billion Chinese and African people into a powerful force and join hands to bring about a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress for our world," said Xi.

Xi's speech at FOCAC opening ceremony inspires greater optimism among attendees

Scenic spots were shut, crops were harvested and residents were evacuated to temporary shelters on Sunday in east China's Zhejiang Province, as the East China Sea coastal province took proactive steps to safeguard local residential communities before the arrival of Typhoon Bebica.

Typhoon Bebinca, the 13th this year, made landfall near the Chinese financial hub of Shanghai on Monday morning.

Before its landfall, the scenic spot of Haitian Yizhou (which literally means "Ocean-Heaven Shoal"), nestled on the Hangzhou Bay Cross-Sea Bridge, was abruptly closed on Sunday morning.

Unwary travelers who ventured there were promptly advised to depart, with local authorities also temporarily blocking access roads.

In Huzhou, a city of Zhejiang, gusts whipped up waves as high as two meters along the south bank of Lake Taihu on Sunday afternoon, prompting the closure of the scenic area and the safe evacuation of visitors.

Similar protective measures were enacted in Wenzhou, where a beach was closed.

To protect mature farm crops from the onslaught of Bebica, efforts have been made throughout Zhejiang to harvest those that are ripe for picking. In the city of Pinghu, farmers were seen toiling diligently to gather their ripe yields before the arrival of the typhoon.

Greenhouses across the region were reinforced to resist the battering winds and heavy rains, with meticulous drainage preparations underway to protect from waterlogging.

In Tongxiang City, farmers hastened the persimmon harvest to prevent fruit loss.

"For us, the top priority is to finish persimmons harvest before the typhoon arrives. Persimmons are heavy, and once the rain comes, they may easily fall onto the ground," said Yang Mengxian, a farmer.

The aquaculture community also sprang into action, accelerating the harvest of aquatic goods and fortifying their dwellings in key bases like Ninghai and Cixi.

As a precaution, the Zhejiang Provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Affairs issued a directive to enhance coordination of cold storage facilities for storing freshly harvested fruits and vegetables, aiming to minimize the impact of the typhoon on agricultural production.

Temporary shelters have been put into use in Ningbo to house residents evacuated from vulnerable or dilapidated structures prone to geological disasters and flash floods.

As the Mid-autumn Festival draws near, a time for family reunions, evacuees were not only provided with essential supplies but also traditional mooncakes.

An indoor stadium of a local primary school, which has been repurposed as a temporary shelter for the first time, started to receive local residents evacuated.

"People keeps coming to this site, and locals prefers staying at this shelter when the typhoon hits. Once the rainstorm subsides, we will send them back home safe and sound," said Zhou Shanhua, manager of the temporary shelter.

To cope with Typhoon Bebica, Daishan County of Zhejiang's Zhoushan City has set up 14 temporary shelters.

The largest venue, situated within a local school, has already received over 1,500 evacuees transported from a nearby island, ensuring their safety and well-being.

East China's Zhejiang takes precautions against Typhoon Bebica