The President of the Republic, His Excellency Paul BIYA has attended the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The one hour-30-minute event was organised at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, on Thursday 5 September.
The 4th FOCAC Summit was held under the theme: "Joining Hands to Advance Modernisation and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future".
Among those in attendance were: Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission; António Guterres, United Nations Secretary-General; and 51 Heads of State and Government.
In his keynote speech, President Xi JINPING hailed the near 70-year-old China-Africa friendship which is currently at its best in history.
He said the founding of FOCAC in 2000 was a milestone in the history of China-Africa relations.
"Over the past 24 years, especially in the new era, China has advanced forward hand in hand with our African brothers and sisters in the spirit of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith," he said.
He 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 characterisation of China-Africa relations be elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
President Xi JINPING outlined 10 key areas of partnership earmarked for the next three years. It will tackle issues such as: Mutual Learning among Civilizations; Trade Prosperity; Industrial Chain Cooperation; Connectivity; Development Cooperation; Health; Agriculture and Livelihoods; People-to-People Exchanges; Green Development; and Common Security.
The Chinese President pledged 50.7 billion U.S. dollars in financing for Africa in order to implement the 10-point action plan.
On his part, UN Secretary-General António Guterres said China’s partnership with the African continent is the main pillar of South-South cooperation.
"Your joint efforts, based on the United Nations Charter, can create a new momentum for African development," he explained.
The UN boss argued that it is time to correct some historic injustices.
"It is outrageous, for example, that the continent of Africa has still no permanent seat on the Security Council," he said.
The leaders of Senegal, Congo, South Africa, Nigeria, Mauritania, and Tanzania expressed deep gratitude to the people of China for their warm hospitality and their spirit of cooperation and collaboration.
President Xi JINPING invited to Cameroon
President Paul BIYA held bilateral talks with his Chinese counterpart on the eve of the opening ceremony. Both Heads of State announced their readiness to elevate Sino-Cameroon ties to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
The Chinese President said the Cameroonian leader's attendance at the 4th FOCAC summit is testimony to the high esteem he has for the growth of the China-Africa axis, and the consolidation of the long-lasting friendship with the people of China.
In response, President Paul BIYA extolled Chinese investments in fields such as health, agriculture, telecommunications, industrial development, and infrastructure. He seized the opportunity to invite President Xi JINPING to Cameroon.
