Chinese President Xi Jinping's keynote speech at the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) summit has drawn praise from African officials, outlining a new blueprint for joint modernization efforts between China and Africa, and reinforcing a shared commitment to peace, security, and global progress.
During his address, Xi said the China-Africa relationship is at its best in history after nearly 70 years of cooperation, and expressed confidence that their joint pursuit of modernization will drive progress across the Global South.
Gambian Foreign Minister Mamadou Tangara commended Xi's comprehensive vision for cooperation, describing it as key to Africa's development.
"President Xi Jinping for the excellent speech that outlined the vision of China when it comes to cooperation with Africa. The 10 points that he mentioned are key in the development process of the continent. China has shown once again its commitment to supporting Africa's development, standing in solidarity and a win-win situation. We are looking forward to a very bright future between Africa and China," Tangara said.
Xi also proposed that China's bilateral relations with all African countries be elevated to the level of strategic relations, with the overarching goal of creating an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
"I think he (President Xi Jinping) made a very, very important speech. He said that China has now elevated its relationship with the African countries to a comprehensive strategic partnership. Very, very important message," said Musalia Mudavadi, Kenyan Foreign Minister.
Tunisian Foreign Minister Mohamed Ali Al Nafti emphasized the significance of China's modernization journey and how it can serve as a model for Africa.
"I should congratulate the leadership, the Chinese leadership, for these wonderful steps achieved in modernizing the country. What is also something which we consider very much is that the Chinese want to export this modernization to our nations, to our countries through different tools of cooperation and partnership. And we wish that this bridge of cooperation and partnership will get more and more solid [for] the benefit of the people of the two nations," said Al Nafti.
In his address, Xi pledged to work with Africa to implement 10 partnership action plans over the next three years to jointly advance modernization. These initiatives will focus on various sectors, including mutual learning, trade, industrial chain cooperation, health, agriculture, cultural exchanges, green development, and security.
Ugandan Ambassador to China, Oliver Wonekha, expressed optimism about the future, drawing inspiration from Xi's proposed measures.
"President Xi Jinping has put out 10 measures, 10 mechanisms that he is going to engage with Africa, and they are very, very encouraging, meaning a brighter future for all of us," Wonekha said.
Former Ethiopian Foreign Minister Workneh Gebeyehu described the summit as a roadmap for future China-Africa collaboration.
"Summits are, you know, the beginning of another big journey, so I see this summit is, a kind of roadmap. This summit will cement, will put a seal [on], how concretely we are going to tackle the challenges we are facing and how really we are going to work very closely for a common future," Gebeyehu stated.
Nigerian Minister of Information and National Orientation, Mohammed Idris, emphasized Xi’s global influence and the potential for deeper collaboration between China and Africa.
"I think this is a very welcome speech. President Xi is someone who is respected not just on the African continent, but around the world. And we do hope that with this kind of engagement, especially these collaborative efforts taking place now, these bilateral meetings happening. It is our desire and is our hope that China, like President Xi said, will deepen its involvement in Africa. And we hope that and hope that's going to be developed [into] a better place for everyone, including China and all African countries," Idris concluded.
Xi's vision for China-Africa cooperation sparks strong reactions at FOCAC Summit
