Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)

1. Background

In the 21st century, to maintain peace, seekstability and promote development has become a shared aspiration of people around the world. Sincethe FOCAC Beijing Ministerial Conference inOctober 2000, four ministerial conferences and one summit meeting of the FOCAC have been convened. As an important platform for collective dialogue and an effective mechanism for practical cooperation between China and African countries,FOCAC has greatly boosted the political influence of China-Africa relationship and served as an important driver for China-Africa practical cooperationin various areas.

2.Mechanisms

Over the past 12 years, FOCAC has instituted a number ofmeeting and dialogue mechanisms at various levels and in different forms, including the Ministerial Conference, political consultations between Chinese and African foreign ministers on the sidelines of UN General Assembly, Senior Officials Meeting (SOMs), and the consultation between the Secretariat of the Chinese Follow-up Committee and the African Diplomatic Corps in China. Within the framework of FOCAC, the China-Africa Business Conference, China-Africa People's Forum and Forums on agriculture, science and technology, finance, culture, think tanks, law, youth and women have been held on a regular or ad hoc basis.

To coordinateand strengthen itscooperation with Africa under the FOCAC framework, the Chinese side has set up a Follow-up Committee, which consistsof27 members including departments under the CPC Central Committee, government agencies, civil organizations and financial institutions.