Wang Yi Talks about the Five-pronged Important Consensus Reached at the Eighth FOCAC Ministerial Conference

On November 30, 2021 local time, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi received journalists together with Senegalese Foreign Minister Aissata Tall Sall after the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) concluded.

Wang Yi said that the Eighth FOCAC Ministerial Conference was a great success. The fact that President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the conference via video link and delivered a keynote speech fully demonstrates that China attaches great importance to China-Africa relations. The conference assessed the implementation of the achievements of the previous session, discussed and finalized the plan for following-up cooperation, and adopted four achievement papers, the most among all sessions. The success of the conference confirmed the strong will of China and Africa to work together to overcome difficulties and seek common development, and showed the huge potential and bright prospects of China-Africa cooperation. The most important consensus reached by China and Africa can be summarized in the following five aspects.

First, both sides will promote the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of China-Africa diplomatic relations. President Xi Jinping summarized the history of China-Africa relations and proposed the spirit for the first time, which became a highlight of the meeting. The spirit is a valuable treasure fostered by both sides through our struggles for national independence and liberation, an important attitude formed by both sides along our glorious march towards development, rejuvenation, unity and cooperation, an interpretation of our characteristics of friendship, equality, mutual benefit and justice, and an epochal example of a new model of international relations. No matter how the international situation may change and what difficulties and obstacles China and Africa may encounter, the two sides will remain strongly committed to strengthening mutual political trust and deepening practical cooperation so that the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation will be carried forward and passed on from generation to generation.

Second, China and Africa will work together to defeat the pandemic. We'll never forget the precious support from African countries and the African Union when China was having a hard time during the combat against the pandemic. In face of the pandemic in Africa, we feel for the African people and do our best to give assistance. When addressing the opening ceremony of the conference, President Xi Jinping solemnly announced that China will provide an additional one billion vaccine doses to Africa to help the African Union achieve its goal of vaccinating 60 percent of the African population by 2022. This is the largest vaccine assistance plan undertaken by a single country to Africa since the outbreak of the pandemic, which will surely boost Africa's confidence and motivation to overcome the pandemic.

Third, both sides will work to enrich China-Africa cooperation in the new era. In addition to our due works in traditional fields of China-Africa cooperation, we will aim at the most urgent development needs of African countries, and will transform and upgrade China-Africa cooperation in such fields as health, people's well-being, green development, digital economy, and capacity building, so as to create more cooperation highlights. President Xi Jinping announced that China will implement nine programs jointly with African countries, which is a strong declaration of China's continued commitment to Africa and the sustained momentum of China-Africa cooperation.

Fourth, the two sides will work together to practice true multilateralism. China and Africa are important forces for securing world peace and development. We will continue to firmly support each other on issues of core interests and major concerns, jointly safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order underpinned by international law, and enhance the representation and voice of developing countries in international affairs. The two sides will resolutely oppose any unilateral sanctions, any interference in other countries' internal affairs and racial discrimination, and will promote the shared human values of peace, development, fairness, justice, democracy and freedom, to make greater contributions to safeguarding world equity and justice.

Fifth, China and Africa will jointly build a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era. Facing the combined challenges of centennial volatility and the pandemic unseen in a century, President Xi Jinping proposed the four proposals on building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, which is warmly responded to by African leaders. China appreciates African countries' welcome and support for the Global Development Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, and will work with Africa to align the initiative with the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the African Union's Agenda 2063 to create synergic energy. China is ready to march with Africa hand in hand on the path of development and rejuvenation, and jointly build a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.

Wang Yi stressed that the FOCAC has gone through 20 extraordinary years and is standing at a new historic starting point. China will always be Africa's most bona fide, most reliable, and longest-term partner. He believes that, with the strategic guidance of Chinese and African leaders and the joint efforts of both sides, we will definitely see the next "two golden decades" of the FOCAC and achieve greater success in building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.