Qin Gang, China’s State Councillor and Minister of Foreign Affairs hosted a reception on Thursday in Beijing to celebrate Africa Day with Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, and Christophe Lutundula, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo.
At the meeting, Mr. Qin examined proposals for deepening China-Africa cooperation.
While congratulating African unity on its 60th anniversary, Mr. Qin noted that Africa had become an important force with global influence and growing international status, emphasizing the importance of strengthening unity and cooperation between China and Africa as part of a shared future.
The senior Chinese official called on China and Africa to support each other on issues relating to sovereignty, development, and dignity, and to firmly safeguard each other’s legitimate rights and interests.
Underlining the need to speed up industrialization, localization, and economic diversification in Africa, Mr. Qin called on both sides to promote synergy between the “Belt and Road” initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the African Union’s Agenda 2063, and other development strategies of African countries.
Mr. Qin also called for exchanges and mutual learning between civilizations to be strengthened and for the implementation of the Initiative for World Civilisation in Africa to be speeded up. Mr. Qin stressed the need for the two sides to jointly support the Global Security Initiative, de-escalate trouble spots in Africa and the world, and jointly tackle non-traditional security challenges.