Photo by Yao Dawei/Xinhua News Agency

Members of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee Li Qiang, Zhao Leji, Wang Huning, CAI Qi, Ding 

Xuexiang and Li Xi attended the meeting.

Beijing in early autumn, high and clear. On both sides of Tian 'anmen Square and Chang 'an Avenue, the bright five-star red flag flutters in 

the wind along with the flags of 53 African countries and the African Union.

China-africa friendship has been passed down from generation to generation across time and space. In the 24 years since the founding of FOCAC, especially in the new era, our Chinese and African brothers and sisters have stood shoulder to shoulder and joined hands in upholding each other's legitimate rights and interests amid the century-old changes in the world in the spirit of sincerity, affinity and good faith. In the tide of economic globalization, we have strengthened our strength and strengthened our health, and delivered fruitful results to hundreds of millions of Chinese and African people. In the face of major disasters and epidemics, we have worked together to write touching stories of China-Africa friendship. We have always understood and supported each other, setting an example of a new type of international relations. After nearly 70 years of hard work, China-Africa relations are at their best in history. Going forward, China proposes to elevate the bilateral relations between China and all African countries with diplomatic relations to the level of strategic relations and elevate the overall positioning of China-Africa relations to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.

China is firmly committed to comprehensively promoting the building of a strong country and the great cause of national renewal through Chinese-style modernization. Africa is also making steady progress towards the modernization goals outlined in the AU's Agenda 2063. The dream of modernization of the Central African Republic will surely set off a wave of modernization in the global South and write a new chapter in building a community with a shared future for mankind.

-- We need to work together to promote fair and equitable modernization. To promote national modernization, we must not only follow the general law of modernization, but also conform to national conditions. China is willing to strengthen exchanges with Africa on governance experience, support countries in exploring modernization paths suited to their national conditions, and ensure equal rights and opportunities for all countries.

-- We need to work together to promote open and win-win modernization. Mutually beneficial cooperation is the sunshine road that serves the long-term and fundamental interests of all countries. China is ready to deepen cooperation with Africa in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, trade and investment, set a benchmark for high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and jointly set a model for the implementation of the global development initiative.

-- We need to work together to advance modernization that puts the people first. The ultimate goal of modernization is to realize the free and all-round development of human beings. China is ready to actively carry out cooperation with Africa in personnel training, poverty reduction, employment and other areas to enhance people's sense of gain, happiness and security in the process of modernization, and jointly promote modernization to benefit all people.

-- We need to work together to promote pluralistic and inclusive modernization. Achieving balanced development of material civilization and spiritual civilization is the lofty pursuit of modernization. China is ready to strengthen people-to-people exchanges with Africa, advocate mutual respect and inclusive coexistence among different civilizations, and work together to make the global civilization initiative more fruitful.

-- We need to work together to promote eco-friendly modernization. Green development is a clear symbol of modernization in the new era. China is ready to help Africa build a "green growth engine", narrow the gap in energy access, adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities, and jointly promote global green and low-carbon transformation.

-- We need to work together to modernize peace and security. Modernization cannot be achieved without a peaceful and stable environment for development. China is ready to help Africa enhance its capacity to independently maintain peace and stability, promote the first implementation of global security initiatives in Africa, promote high-quality development and high-quality security interaction, and jointly safeguard world peace and stability.

In the next three years, China is ready to work with Africa to advance the ten modernization partnership actions, deepen China-Africa cooperation, and lead the modernization of the global South.

First, partnership for mutual learning among civilizations. China is ready to build a platform for sharing governance experience with Africa, set up a China-Africa development knowledge network and 25 China-Africa research centers, and invite 1,000 people from African political parties to China for exchanges.

Second, Partners for Trade and Prosperity. China is willing to take the initiative to open its market further unilaterally, and has decided to grant zero tariff treatment to all the least developed countries that have established diplomatic relations with China, including 33 African countries, for 100 percent of tariff items, so as to turn China's big market into a big opportunity for Africa. We will expand access to African agricultural products, deepen cooperation in e-commerce and other fields, and implement the China-Africa Quality Improvement Plan. China is ready to sign a framework agreement on economic partnership for common development with Africa to provide a long-term, stable and predictable institutional guarantee for China-Africa trade and investment.

Third, industrial chain partnership action. China is ready to work with Africa to build a growth circle of industrial cooperation, focus on building a pilot zone for in-depth economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa, and launch the African Small and Medium-sized Enterprises Empowerment Program. We will jointly build a China-Africa digital Technology Cooperation center and set up 20 digital demonstration projects.

Fourth, Partnership action on connectivity. China is ready to implement 30 infrastructure connectivity projects in Africa, work together to promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and build a China-Africa connectivity network featuring interconnected land and sea development. China will help build the African Continental Free Trade Area, deepen cooperation in logistics and finance, and boost Africa's cross-regional development.

Fifth, develop partner actions. China is willing to issue a joint statement with Africa on deepening cooperation within the framework of the Global Development Initiative and implement 1,000 "small and American" livelihood projects. Inject into the China-World Bank Partnership Fund. We will support the hosting of the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations, so as to bring more development benefits to the Chinese and African people.

Sixth, Partnership in Health. China is willing to establish a China-Africa hospital alliance with Africa and jointly build a joint medical center. China has dispatched 2,000 medical personnel to Africa, implemented 20 medical and antimalarial programs, encouraged Chinese enterprises to invest in drug production, and continued to provide assistance to Africa within its capacity to cope with the epidemic. We will support the building of the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to enhance the public health capacity of African countries.

Seventh, partnership actions to revitalize agriculture and benefit the people. China will provide one billion yuan of emergency food aid to Africa, build 100,000 mu of agricultural standardization demonstration zone, send 500 agricultural experts to Africa, and build a China-Africa agricultural science and Technology Innovation alliance. 500 public welfare projects were implemented. We will encourage Chinese and African companies to invest and start businesses in a two-way way to create at least one million jobs for Africa.

Eighth, the people-to-people Exchange Partnership Initiative. China is willing to work with Africa to further promote the "Future Vocational Education in Africa" plan, jointly build engineering and technology colleges, and build 10 "Luban workshops." Focusing on African women and young people, 60,000 training places will be provided. China and Africa will jointly implement the "Cultural Silk Road" plan and the "Radio, Television and Audio-visual Innovation Cooperation Plan". The year 2026 has been designated as the Year of China-Africa People-To-People and Cultural Exchanges.

Ninth, Green development Partnership action. China is ready to implement 30 clean energy projects in Africa, build a meteorological early warning platform, and carry out cooperation in disaster prevention, mitigation and relief as well as biodiversity protection. China has set up a China-Africa Forum on Peaceful Use of Nuclear Technology, and carried out cooperation in satellite remote sensing, lunar and deep space exploration to help Africa achieve green development.

Tenth, building partnerships for security. China is ready to establish a partnership with Africa to implement the Global Security Initiative, train 6,000 military personnel and 1,000 police and law enforcement personnel for Africa, and invite 500 young military officers to visit China. China has carried out joint military exercises, training and patrols between Chinese and African forces, carried out the "Operation to help Africa rid itself of Landmines", and jointly maintained the safety of personnel and projects.

In order to promote the implementation of the Ten Partnership Actions, the Chinese government is ready to provide strong support for China-Africa practical cooperation in various fields.

This will further change China in a profound way. It will also provide new opportunities and inject new impetus into African countries and the dream of China-Africa common modernization. There is an African proverb, "Fellow travelers are true friends." On the road to modernization, no one should be left behind, and no country should be left behind. Let us pool the mighty strength of the over 2.8 billion Chinese and African people and join hands on the journey of modernization. With the modernization of China and Africa, we can contribute to the modernization of the global South, draw a new chapter in the history of human development, and jointly usher in a brighter future of peace, security, prosperity and progress for the world.

President Faye of Senegal, Co-Chair of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation; President Ghazwani of Mauritania, rotating Chair of the African Union; President Ramaphosa of South Africa, President Sassou of Congo (Brazzaville), President Tinubu of Nigeria, President Hassan of Tanzania; Special guest of the Summit and UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres; Au Commission Chairman Faki also addressed the opening ceremony.

They said that FOCAC is not only an effective platform to promote the development of Africa-China partnership, but also has become a shining example leading South-South cooperation. Cooperation at the Forum is based on friendship, respect and mutual benefit. China's cooperation with Africa, with no political strings attached, has greatly promoted the connectivity and economic and social development of African countries. Under the current complex and volatile international situation, deepening cooperation with China has become more of a hope for African countries to achieve security, stability and sustainable development. Africa and China share similar concepts. The African side firmly upholds the One-China policy, firmly supports all efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification, and firmly opposes interference by external forces in China's internal affairs under the pretext of Taiwan and human rights issues. The African side congratulates on the successful convening of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and believes that China's further deepening of reform in an all-round way and promoting Chinese-style modernization will bring more development opportunities to African countries and other countries in the world. The African side is willing to work with China to continue to uphold the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence and the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, actively implement the outcomes of the summit, jointly advance industrialization and agricultural modernization, build an all-weather Africa-China community with a shared future in the new era, and jointly move towards a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress.

The summit adopted the Beijing Declaration on Building an All-weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future in a New Era and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation - Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027).

More than 3,200 people from home and abroad attended the opening ceremony, including heads of state and government, heads of delegations of the African member states of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and heads of international and regional organizations.

Yin Li, Li Shulei, He Lifeng, Wang Xiaohong and others attended.

Wang Yi presided over the opening ceremony.

Founded in 2000, FOCAC now has 55 members from China, 53 African countries that have established diplomatic relations with China and the African Union Commission. The theme of the summit is "Jointly Advancing Modernization and Building a high-level China-Africa Community with a shared Future". After the opening ceremony, four high-level meetings will be held on the theme of governance, industrialization and agricultural modernization, peace and security, and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.

(Source: Xinhuanet)