Xi to strengthen Sino-African ties

President hopes to discuss plans for development at leaders summit

BEIJING:

Hailing the African Union as a model of the continent’s unity and self-development, Xi said the organisation has actively pushed forward its integration process, as he sent congratulations to the opening of the leaders’ meeting of the 31st African Union Summit in Nouakchott, the capital of Mauritania.

Xi said member nations had continued to speak with one voice on major international and regional issues and had increased their ability to safeguard peace and security.

He hoped the African Union could guide African countries to achieve more progress.

The president also said he expected to meet with African leaders during the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (Focac) in September.

He also hoped to discuss plans for China- Africa cooperation and development, thus benefiting the people of both sides and contributing to world peace and development.

The Focac summit in Beijing is themed as win-win cooperation and joining hands to build a closer community with a shared future for China and Africa.

China would work with African countries to link the summit’s theme with the joint development of the Belt and Road Initiative between China and Africa, the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations, Agenda 2063 of the African Union and the development strategies of African countries to push forward the China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level, Xi added.