International experts praised Chinese President Xi Jinping's keynote speech at the opening ceremony of 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, which demonstrated China's determination to build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.
They stressed that China and Africa working hand in hand on the journey towards modernization will bring bright prospects for world peace and development.
The FOCAC summit, which took place from Sept 4 to 6 in Beijing, was the largest diplomatic event hosted by China in recent years, with the highest attendance of foreign leaders.
Themed "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future," the three-day event aimed to strengthen friendship and outline future cooperation between the two sides.
President Xi delivered a keynote speech titled "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a Community with a Shared Future" at the opening ceremony of the summit on Sept 5.
Denis Sassou Nguesso, president of the Republic of the Congo, said the speech charted the path for African countries to take within the FOCAC framework. "I think President Xi Jinping's speech is very important because in it he pointed out the path we have to take within the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. The "10 partnership action plans" have pointed out the direction and specific measures for our cooperation in the next three years. This speech is historic. At the scene, everyone spontaneously stood up and applauded," said President Sassou.
Other experts and politicians emphasized the importance President Xi's stance that no one should be left behind.
"In his statement, President Xi addressed that 'a true friend is a fellow traveler'. Again, he also mentioned that no one should be left behind on the road to modernization. These two statements are very critical. In His Excellency's speech, the core idea is if we join hand-in-hand, if you work together, I hope the future is bright," said Balew Demissie, a researcher at the Ethiopian Policy Studies Institute.
"We are happy to learn that China, as the President has said, is willing to work with Africa for inclusive development without leaving anyone behind," said Joseph Lungu, special assistant to Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema.
Experts from other countries also said the establishment of high-level cooperation between China and Africa will not only promote the common development of China and Africa, but also benefit the world.
"President Xi Jinping mentioned himself that we're moving to the era of small is beautiful in the context of Belt and Road initiative. I think that this will be an area of focus because it's effectively presented as win-win for both China and for African partners. They draw inspiration from China's political and economic model," said Benjamin Robin Barton, associate professor at the School of Politics, History and International Relations of University of Nottingham Malaysia.
"I think Xi Jinping understands that China is going to get involved. And I think China is playing a very constructive role. I think the world will benefit greatly if Africa can become a part of the prosperous, not just the Global South, but the world economy. And that's what everyone hopes for the future," said Denis Simon, distinguished fellow at the Institute for China-America Studies.
"I think the most important signal conveyed by President Xi Jinping's speech is security, stability and win-win cooperation. Importantly, the initiatives proposed by President Xi to help African countries achieve development will also contribute to the development of a multi-polar world," said Maria Butina, member the Federal Assembly of the Russian Federation.
Xi's FOCAC speech demonstrates will to build high-level China-Africa partnership: int'l experts
