Xi Jinping’s 10 Key Remarks on Developing China-Africa Relations

File Photo: Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Kenya President Uhuru Kenyatta in Beijing on August 19, 2013.

Chinese President Xi Jinping will attend and chair the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in early December in Johannesburg, South Africa. The remarks on developing China-Africa relations Xi delivered in recent years point the way for people to better understand China- Africa relations.

1. China-Africa cooperation is comprehensive

Regardless of changes in the international landscape, China will, as always, continue to support and promote Africa's efforts to achieve peace, stability, prosperity and development, and strength through unity and participate in international affairs on an equal basis. China and Africa are enjoying wide-ranging cooperation. China attaches great importance to developing friendly relations with all African countries, whether they be big or small, strong or weak, rich or poor. China treats them equally and actively carries out mutually beneficial and win-win pragmatic cooperation.

——Xi’s joint interview to media with the four other BRICS countries in Beijing on March 19, 2013.

2. Pioneering spirit is vital to improved China-Africa cooperation

The defining characteristics of China-Africa relations are sincerity, friendship, mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development. To maintain the vigorous development of China-Africa relations, the two sides must keep pace with the times and forge ahead in a pioneering and innovative spirit. During more than half a century, the two sides have always adopted a long-term perspective to find new areas of common growth, promoting China-Africa relations to achieve development. This kind of pioneering spirit to seeking solutions to different kinds of problems is vital to enhancing China-Africa cooperation.

——Xi’s speech at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on March 25, 2013.

3. China develops relations with African countries under the principle of truth, practicality, amity, and sincerity

In the new environment, China-Africa relations have become more important with greater common interests. China will intensify, not weaken, its efforts to expand relations with Africa.

We will treat our African friends with truth, cooperate with Africa through practical ways, strengthen China-Africa relations with amity and solve problems with sincerity.

No matter how developed China is, China will always treat African countries as friends in adversity.

——Xi’s speech at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on March 25, 2013.

4. The Chinese dream and the African dream

Our long-standing traditional friendship and close interests relations are not the only reasons which bind China and Africa together. So do the Chinese dream and African dream. The Chinese people are working hard to realize the Chinese dream of great national renewal, while the African people are committed to the African dream of gaining strength through unity and achieving development and rejuvenation. The Chinese and African people should further unite, cooperate and support each other to make our dreams come true.

——Xi’s speech at the Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, on March 25, 2013.

5. The development of China-Africa relations can only be in the present continuous tense, and never in present perfect tense.

China will be a steadfast guardian of Africa's peace and stability, a steadfast promoter of Africa's prosperity and development, a steadfast supporter in Africa's pursuit of strength through unity, and a steadfast advocate for Africa in its efforts to seek equal participation in international affairs.

The development of China-Africa relations can only be in the present continuous tense, and never in present perfect tense. We are ready to work with African countries to push our ties to a higher level and expand them to a broader area.

——Xi’s remarks at a breakfast meeting with African leaders in Durban, South Africa, on March 28, 2013.

6. People-to-people exchanges are an important pillar

The China-Africa traditional friendship, which is deeply rooted in our peoples, is an important foundation for our bilateral relationship. Only with active public participation can the China-Africa friendship maintain its vigor and bilateral cooperation be consolidated. The development of such a relationship can enjoy wider and firmer public support only when the two-way cooperation continuously benefits people from both sides.

People-to-people exchanges are an important pillar for the new type of strategic partnership between China and Africa.

——Xi’s speech before the parliament of the Republic of Congo on March 29, 2013

7. China-Africa cooperation injects positive energy into the development and renewal of Africa.

Africa is a large family going through thick and thin together. A harmonious family can lead to success. During the struggle for national independence and liberation, the journey to peace and development, the Chinese people and African people always supported and closely cooperated with each other, forging brotherhood with a common destiny. China firmly supports Africa's pursuit of strength through unity and its integration process. China-Africa cooperation injects positive energy into the development and renewal of Africa.

——Xi’s congratulatory message to the special summit of the African Union (AU) marking the 50th anniversary of the founding of the Organization for African Unity (OAU) on May 25, 2013.

8. China upholds a correct view of morality and interests in its cooperation with Africa and will continue to help African countries.

One of the primary cornerstones of China's foreign policy is to unite and cooperate with African countries, and this will not change with China's development and the elevation of China's status in the world. China upholds a correct view of morality and interests in its cooperation with Africa. Bearing in mind the principle of "teaching one to fish is better than giving him fish," China will continue to help African countries strengthen their capabilities in self-reliant development, benefiting people of all African countries and truly achieving mutual benefit and win-win results, which can help Africa realize its dreams of development and revitalization.

—— Xi’s remarks in his meeting with Namibian Prime Minister Hage Geingob in Beijing on April 8, 2014.

9. China firmly supports greater representation and voice for African countries in the international governance system.

China will continue to stand with developing countries and firmly support greater representation and voice for developing countries, especially African countries, in the international governance system. China's vote in the United Nations will always belong to the developing countries.

——Xi’s address at the annual high-level general debate of the 70th session of the United Nations General Assembly on September 28, 2015.

10. Unity and cooperation with African countries has always been a cornerstone of China's foreign policy

China and Africa are always a community of shared destiny through thick and thin, as well as a community of share interests through cooperation and mutual benefits. The China-Africa traditional friendship is warmly welcomed by people from both sides. Unity and cooperation with African countries has always been a cornerstone of China's foreign policy. The Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will be held in December, and China is willing to make joint efforts with all forum members to make the summit a grand meeting to strengthen China- Africa unity and the future of China- Africa cooperation.

—— Xi’s remarks during talks with his Liberian counterpart Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf in Beijing on November 3, 2015.