Beijing Declaration, action plan adopted at FOCAC summit
By China Watch |
Updated: 2018-09-05 14:57
On Sept 3-4, leaders of China and African countries have gathered in Beijing once again to explore new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation and reinvigorate plans to build an even brighter future together.
President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the summit on Sept 3, titled “Work together for common development and a shared future”.
China has followed the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests. China has stood with African countries. Together, we have worked in unity and forged ahead.
— President Xi Jinping
In his speech, President Xi reiterated the country follows a "five-no" approach in its relations with Africa: no interference in African countries' pursuit of development paths that fit their national conditions; no interference in African countries' internal affairs; no imposition of China's will on African countries; no attachment of political strings to assistance to Africa; and no seeking of selfish political gains in investment and financing cooperation with Africa.
President Xi announced that China will implement eight major initiatives with African countries in the next three years and beyond.
I. On industrial promotion, Xi said a China-Africa economic and trade expo will be set up in China and Chinese companies are encouraged to increase investment in Africa. China will carry out 50 agricultural assistance programs, provide emergency humanitarian food aid amounting to 1 billion yuan (147 million U.S. dollars) to African countries affected by natural disasters, and send 500 senior agricultural experts to Africa.
II. On infrastructure connectivity, Xi said China will work with the African Union to formulate a China-Africa infrastructure cooperation plan and support Chinese companies in taking part in Africa's infrastructure development by way of investment-construction-operation or through other models.
III. On trade facilitation, Xi said China will increase imports, especially non-resource products, from Africa and support African countries in participating in China International Import Expo. The least developed African countries will be exempted from paying exhibition stand fees, he said.
IV. On green development, Xi said China will undertake 50 aid projects on green development, and ecological and environmental protection, with a focus on climate change, ocean, desertification prevention and control, and wildlife protection.
V. On capacity building, Xi said China will set up 10 Luban Workshops in Africa to offer vocational training for young Africans. China will also train 1,000 high-caliber Africans, provide Africa with 50,000 government scholarships, sponsor seminar and workshop opportunities for 50,000 Africans, and invite 2,000 African youths to visit China for exchanges.
VI. On healthcare, Xi said China will upgrade 50 medical and health aid programs for Africa, with a focus on flagship projects such as the headquarters of the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention and China-Africa Friendship Hospitals.
VII. On people-to-people exchanges, Xi said China will set up an institute of African studies and enhance exchanges with Africa on civilization. China welcomes Africa's participation in the Silk Road International League of Theaters, the Silk Road International Museum Alliance and the Network of Silk Road Art Festivals.
VIII. On peace and security, Xi said China will set up a China-Africa peace and security fund and continue providing free military aid to the African Union. A total of 50 security assistance programs will be carried out in the fields including UN peacekeeping missions, fighting piracy, and combating terrorism.
After a two-phase roundtable meeting, chaired respectively by President Xi and his South African counterpart Cyril Ramaphosa on Sept 4, the summit adopted the Beijing Declaration--Toward an Even Stronger China-Africa Community with a Shared Future, and the FOCAC Beijing Action Plan (2019-2021).
With open arms, we welcome African countries aboard the express train of China's development. No one could hold back the Chinese people or the African people as we march toward rejuvenation.
— President Xi Jinping
President Xi met the press together with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Senegalese President Macky Sall, presidents of the previous and sitting African co-chairs of the FOCAC, as the 2018 FOCAC Beijing Summit concluded.
All FOCAC members agreed to jointly build a China-Africa community with a shared future that assumes joint responsibility, pursues win-win cooperation, delivers happiness for all, enjoys common cultural prosperity, ensures common security, and promotes harmony between man and nature, which will set a model for the building of a community with a shared future for humanity, Xi said.
All FOCAC members agreed that China-Africa relations have embarked on a distinctive path of win-win cooperation and are at their best in history, Xi said.
China and African countries are willing to enhance the alignment of strategies and policy coordination, push forward the joint development of the Belt and Road, and closely align the Belt and Road Initiative with the African Union Agenda 2063, the United Nations 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development and the development strategies of African countries, Xi said.
All FOCAC members agreed that China-Africa relations have demonstrated unprecedented cohesiveness, vitality, and creativity. China will continue to adhere to the principle of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith, and uphold the values of friendship, justice, and shared interests, and push the in-depth, solid, steady and enduring development of the China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership, Xi said.
All FOCAC members also agreed that China-Africa cooperation is part of international cooperation with Africa. In conducting cooperation with Africa, all parties of the international community should respect African countries' sovereignty, listen to Africa's voice, take Africa's stance seriously, and deliver on commitments made to the continent, Xi said.
The forum was established 18 years ago. The successful hosting of the Beijing Summit has brought China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership to a new historic starting point, and on a new journey, Xi said.
On Sept 3-4, leaders of China and African countries have gathered in Beijing once again to explore new opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation and reinvigorate plans to build an even brighter future together.
President Xi Jinping delivered a keynote speech at the summit on Sept 3, titled “Work together for common development and a shared future”.
China has followed the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests. China has stood with African countries. Together, we have worked in unity and forged ahead.
— President Xi Jinping
In his speech, President Xi reiterated the country follows a "five-no" approach in its relations with Africa: no interference in African countries' pursuit of development paths that fit their national conditions; no interference in African countries' internal affairs; no imposition of China's will on African countries; no attachment of political strings to assistance to Africa; and no seeking of selfish political gains in investment and financing cooperation with Africa.
President Xi announced that China will implement eight major initiatives with African countries in the next three years and beyond.
I. On industrial promotion, Xi said a China-Africa economic and trade expo will be set up in China and Chinese companies are encouraged to increase investment in Africa. China will carry out 50 agricultural assistance programs, provide emergency humanitarian food aid amounting to 1 billion yuan (147 million U.S. dollars) to African countries affected by natural disasters, and send 500 senior agricultural experts to Africa.
II. On infrastructure connectivity, Xi said China will work with the African Union to formulate a China-Africa infrastructure cooperation plan and support Chinese companies in taking part in Africa's infrastructure development by way of investment-construction-operation or through other models.
III. On trade facilitation, Xi said China will increase imports, especially non-resource products, from Africa and support African countries in participating in China International Import Expo. The least developed African countries will be exempted from paying exhibition stand fees, he said.
IV. On green development, Xi said China will undertake 50 aid projects on green development, and ecological and environmental protection, with a focus on climate change, ocean, desertification prevention and control, and wildlife protection.
