On the morning of September 5 2024 President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and delivered a keynote address at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. Xi Jinping announced that bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic relations with China are elevated to the level of strategic relations the overall characterization of China-Africa relations are elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era and China will work with Africa to take ten partnership actions for modernization.
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 were present.
In early autumn Beijing's skies are high and clear. At Tian'anmen Square and on both sides of Chang'an Avenue the bright Five-Star Red Flag flutters in the wind alongside the flags of 53 African countries and the African Union.
President Xi Jinping took a group photo with 51 African heads of state and government two presidential representatives the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission and the Secretary-General of the United Nations who were attending the summit.
Accompanied by the music of "Peace - a Community with a Shared Future" and enthusiastic applause Xi Jinping and the foreign leaders entered the venue together and took their seats on the podium.
Xi Jinping delivered a keynote address entitled "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a Community with a Shared Future".
On behalf of the Chinese government and people Xi Jinping first extended a warm welcome to foreign guests attending the summit!
Xi Jinping pointed out "In this season of harvest I am delighted to gather together with so many old and new friends in Beijing to discuss grand plans for China-Africa friendship and cooperation in the new era." The friendship between China and Africa transcends time and space surmounts mountains and oceans and passes down through generations. Over the past 24 years since the establishment of FOCAC especially in the new era China has stood shoulder to shoulder with African brothers and sisters in the spirit of sincerity real results amity and good faith to firmly defend their legitimate rights and interests as once-in-a-century changes sweep across the world. Both sides get stronger and more resilient together by riding the tide of economic globalization delivering tangible benefits to billions of ordinary Chinese and Africans. Both sides share weal and woe in fighting natural disasters and epidemics together creating touching stories of China-Africa friendship. Both sides always empathize with and support each other setting a stellar example of a new type of international relations. Thanks to nearly 70 years of tireless efforts from both sides the China-Africa relationship is now at its best in history. With its future growth in mind the Chinese side proposed that bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the level of strategic relations and that the overall characterization of China-Africa relations be elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
Xi Jinping pointed out that modernization is an inalienable right of all countries. China is going all out to build a great modern socialist country in all respects and pursue national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization. Africa is marching in solid strides toward the modernization goals set forth in the AU's Agenda 2063. China and Africa's joint pursuit of modernization will set off a wave of modernization in the Global South and open a new chapter in the drive for a community with a shared future for mankind.
Xi Jinping put forward that China and Africa should work together to advance modernization in six aspects.
—China and Africa should jointly advance modernization that is just and equitable. In promoting modernization China and Africa should not only follow the general rules but also act in light of their national realities. China is ready to increase exchanges of governance experience with Africa support all countries in exploring modernization paths befitting their national conditions and help ensure equal rights and equal opportunities for all countries.
—China and Africa should jointly advance modernization that is open and win-win. Mutually beneficial cooperation is the sunny road to the betterment of long-term and fundamental interests of all countries. China is ready to deepen cooperation with Africa in industry agriculture infrastructure trade and investment promote exemplary high-quality Belt and Road cooperation projects and build together a model for the delivery of the Global Development Initiative.
—China and Africa should jointly advance modernization that puts the people first. The ultimate goal of modernization is the free and full development of human beings. China will work vigorously with Africa to promote personnel training poverty reduction and employment enhance the sense of gain happiness and security of the people in the course of modernization and ensure that all will benefit from the process.
—China and Africa should jointly advance modernization featuring diversity and inclusiveness. Well-balanced material and spiritual advancement is a lofty objective of modernization. China will enhance people-to-people and cultural exchanges with Africa champion mutual respect inclusiveness and coexistence of different civilizations and strive together for more fruitful outcomes under the Global Civilization Initiative.
—China and Africa should jointly advance modernization that is eco-friendly. Green development is a hallmark of modernization in the new era. China is ready to help Africa build "green growth engines" narrow the gap in energy accessibility adhere to the principle of common but differentiated responsibilities and jointly push for the global transition to green and low-carbon development.
—China and Africa should jointly advance modernization underpinned by peace and security. Modernization would not be possible without a peaceful and stable environment for development. China is ready to help Africa improve its capacity in safeguarding peace and stability independently prioritize Africa in implementing the Global Security Initiative (GSI) promote mutual reinforcement of high-quality development and greater security and work together with Africa to uphold world peace and stability.
Xi Jinping stressed that China and Africa account for one-third of the world population. Without their modernization there will be no global modernization. In the next three years China will work with Africa to take the following ten partnership actions for modernization to deepen China-Africa cooperation and spearhead the Global South modernization.
First the Partnership Action for Mutual Learning among Civilizations. China is ready to work with Africa to build a platform for governance experience sharing a China-Africa knowledge network for development and 25 centers on China and Africa studies. China will invite 1000 members of African political parties to China for exchanges.
Second the Partnership Action for Trade Prosperity. China will voluntarily and unilaterally open its market wider. China has decided to give all LDCs having diplomatic relations with China including 33 countries in Africa zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines. It will help turn China's big market into Africa's big opportunity. China will expand market access for African agricultural products deepen cooperation with Africa in e-commerce and other areas and launch a "China-Africa quality enhancement program". China is prepared to enter into framework agreements on economic partnership for shared development with African countries to provide long-term stable and predictable institutional guarantee for trade and investment between the two sides.
Third the Partnership Action for Industrial Chain Cooperation. China will foster industry cooperation growth clusters with Africa push forward the Pilot Zone for In-depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation and launch an "African SMEs empowerment program". China will build with Africa a digital technology cooperation center and initiate 20 digital demonstration projects.
Fourth the Partnership Action for Connectivity. China is prepared to carry out 30 infrastructure connectivity projects in Africa promote together high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and put in place a China-Africa network featuring land-sea links and coordinated development. China is ready to assist in the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area and deepen logistics and financial cooperation for the benefit of trans-regional development in Africa.
Fifth the Partnership Action for Development Cooperation. China is ready to release the Joint Statement on Deepening Cooperation within the Framework of the Global Development Initiative with Africa and implement 1000 "small and beautiful" livelihood projects. China will replenish the China-World Bank Group Partnership Facility. China supports Africa in hosting the 2026 Youth Olympic Games and the 2027 Africa Cup of Nations. China will work together with Africa to deliver more fruits of development to the two peoples.
Sixth the Partnership Action for Health. China is ready to establish with Africa a hospitals alliance and joint medical centers. China will send 2000 medical personnel to Africa and launch 20 programs of health facilities and malaria treatment. China will encourage Chinese companies to invest in Africa's pharmaceutical production and continue to do what it can to help Africa with epidemic response. China supports the development of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to strengthen public health capacity in all African countries.
Seventh the Partnership Action for Agriculture and Livelihoods. China will provide Africa with RMB1 billion yuan in emergency food assistance build 100000 mu (about 6670 hectares) of standardized agriculture demonstration areas in Africa send 500 agricultural experts and establish a China-Africa agricultural science and technology innovation alliance. China will implement 500 programs in Africa to promote community welfare. China will also encourage two-way investment for new business operations by Chinese and African companies and create at least one million jobs for Africa.
Eighth the Partnership Action for People-to-People Exchanges. China will implement with Africa more solidly the Future of Africa—Vocational Education Cooperation Plan establish together an engineering technology academy and build ten Luban Workshops. China will provide 60000 training opportunities to Africa mainly for women and youths. China will launch with Africa a Cultural Silk Road program as well as an initiative of cooperation on innovation in radio TV and audio and visual programs. 2026 is designated as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges.
Ninth the Partnership Action for Green Development. China is ready to launch 30 clean energy projects in Africa put in place meteorological early warning systems and carry out cooperation in disaster prevention mitigation and relief as well as biodiversity conservation. China will create a China-Africa forum on peaceful use of nuclear technology and collaborate on satellite remote sensing and lunar and deep-space exploration. All this is designed to help with green development in Africa.
Tenth the Partnership Action for Common Security. The Chinese side is ready to build with Africa a partnership for implementing the GSI provide training for 6000 military personnel and 1000 police and law enforcement officers from Africa and invite 500 young African military officers to visit China. The two sides will conduct joint military exercises training and patrol carry out an "action for a mine-free Africa" and jointly ensure the safety of personnel and projects.
To implement the ten partnership actions the Chinese government will provide strong support for China-Africa practical cooperation in various fields.
Xi Jinping stressed at last that the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee laid out systematic plans for further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese modernization. This will profoundly further transform China. It will also provide new opportunities and new driving forces for African countries and for both sides' joint pursuit of modernization. As an African proverb goes a friend is someone you share the path with. On the path to modernization no one and no country should be left behind. Xi Jinping said "Let us rally the more than 2.8 billion Chinese and African people into a powerful force on our shared path toward modernization promote modernization of the Global South with China-Africa modernization and write a new magnificent chapter of development in human history. Let us join hands to bring about a bright future of peace security prosperity and progress for our world."
President Bassirou Diomaye Faye of Senegal co-chair of FOCAC; President Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani of Mauritania rotating chairmanship of the AU; President Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa subregional representative for Africa; President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso President of Nigeria Bola Ahmed Tinubu President of Tanzania Samia Suluhu Hassan special guest and Secretary General of the United Nations António Guterres and Chairperson of the AU Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat also addressed the opening ceremony.
The African leaders thanked China for hosting the FOCAC Beijing Summit spoke highly of the profound traditional friendship between Africa and China and the positive outcomes achieved since the establishment of FOCAC especially the 2018 Beijing Summit and highly appreciated the ten partnership actions put forward by President Xi Jinping for China and Africa to advance modernization together. They said that FOCAC is not only an effective platform to promote the development of Africa-China partnership but also a shining example of South-South cooperation. FOCAC cooperation is d 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. Amid the current complex and turbulent international situation deepening cooperation with China has become an even greater hope for African countries to achieve security stability and sustainable development. Africa and China share similar ideals. The African side highly appreciates and fully supports the important vision of building a community with a shared future for mankind as well as the Belt and Road Initiative the Global Development Initiative the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative put forward by President Xi Jinping. The African side is willing to work with China to jointly advocate the common values of humanity and support all countries in exploring a path to modernization that suits their national conditions. The African side firmly pursues the one-China policy and staunchly supports all efforts made by the Chinese government to achieve national reunification. The African side resolutely opposes external forces' interference in China's internal affairs under the pretext of the Taiwan question human rights and other issues. The African side extends congratulations on the success of the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and believes that China's efforts in further deepening reform comprehensively to advance Chinese 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 for the new era and jointly move towards a bright future of peace security prosperity and progress.
The summit adopted the Beijing Declaration on Jointly Building an All-weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation - Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027).
More than 3200 people from home and abroad attended the opening ceremony including heads of state and government as well as heads of delegations of the African member states of FOCAC and heads of international and regional organizations.
Yin Li Li Shulei He Lifeng Wang Xiaohong and others were present.
Wang Yi presided over the opening ceremony.
Founded in 2000 FOCAC now has 55 members including China 53 African countries that have established diplomatic relations with China and the AU Commission. The theme of the summit is "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a Community with a Shared Future". After the opening ceremony four high-level meetings will be held on the topics of state governance industrialization and agricultural modernization peace and security and high-quality Belt and Road cooperation.