Joining Hands to Promote Modernization and Create a Bright Future for China and Africa

-- Keynote speech at the China-Africa Leaders Dialogue

(Johannesburg, 24 August 2023)

the People's Republic of China President Xi Jinping

Honorable President Ramaphosa,

Distinguished Heads of State,

Dear colleagues:

It is a great pleasure to host the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue with President Ramaphosa. After a lapse of five years, it is very cordial to share friendship and cooperation with African friends face to face again. Thank you all for attending the meeting. I also extend my sincere greetings to the leaders of African countries who were not present at the meeting.

Africa is a land of hope in the 21st century. This is the tenth time I have set foot on the African continent. Every time I come here, I can feel the new developments and changes in Africa. This year marks the sixtieth anniversary of the founding of the Organization of African Unity, and I would like to extend my heartfelt congratulations to my colleagues and the people of Africa.

Over the past 60 years, under the banner of pan-Africanism, African countries have made great strides along the road of independence, unity, self-reliance and integration, demonstrating African strength in the struggle to safeguard multilateralism and defend the common interests of developing countries. With the steady progress of the African Union's Agenda 2063, the formal implementation of the African Continental Free Trade Area, and the continuous strengthening of cooperation among sub-regional organizations, Africa is becoming an important pole with global influence.

In 2013, after I became the president of China, I came to Africa for the first time, and put forward the policy concept of true and sincere to Africa. Over the past 10 years, we have been working with our African friends to draw strength from the spirit of friendship and cooperation between China and Africa, to move forward firmly on the road of solidarity and cooperation, to uphold morality in the face of international changes, to help each other in the face of the impact of the new crown epidemic, to push China-Africa relations to a new level and to enter a new stage of building a high-level China-Africa community of destiny.

Colleagues!

At present, China is marching towards the second centenary goal, which is to build a prosperous, strong, democratic, civilized, harmonious and beautiful modern socialist country in an all-round way by the 100 year of the founding of New China, and to promote the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation in an all-round way with Chinese-style modernization. Africa is accelerating towards the vision outlined in the African Union's Agenda 2063 and making every effort to build a new Africa that is peaceful, united, prosperous and self-reliant. China and Africa should work together to create a favourable environment for the realization of their respective development visions.

-Jointly promoting a just and rational international order. We should inherit the spirit of helping each other in the same boat, practice true multilateralism, take a clear-cut stand against the legacy of colonialism and all kinds of hegemonic acts, firmly support each other in safeguarding their core interests, and confidently adhere to the just ideas of developing countries. we will promote the development of the international order in a more just and reasonable direction.

-Jointly maintain a peaceful and secure global environment. Africa is working tirelessly towards the goal of "silencing the guns. We are willing to work with the African side to implement the new security concept of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable, advocate dialogue to bridge differences, resolve disputes through cooperation, promote political settlement of international and regional hot issues, and maintain world peace and stability. We must adhere to the harmonious coexistence of man and nature and safeguard the global ecological environment.

-- Jointly building an open and inclusive world economy. We must insist on tearing down walls instead of building walls, opening up instead of isolation, insisting on extensive consultation, joint construction and sharing, not engaging in winner-take-all, promoting the construction of an open world economy, allowing developing countries to better integrate into the international division of labor, and sharing economic globalization. The fruits. We should transcend the barriers of civilizations through civilized exchanges, promote the tolerance and mutual learning of civilizations, and make further contributions to the progress of mankind.

Colleagues!

The road to modernization is rich and varied. What kind of development path is best for Africa, and the African people have the most say. Promoting integration is the path of modernization chosen by African countries and people. China has always been a firm supporter and is willing to be a fellow traveler on Africa's path to modernization. Over the years, China has helped Africa build a large number of interconnection infrastructure, carried out extensive cooperation with the African Union and various sub-regional organizations, and assisted in the construction of pan-African landmark projects such as the African Union Conference Center and the African Center for Disease Control and Control.

Facing the future, China will strengthen the alignment of development strategies with Africa. Based on platforms such as the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" and the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, China will expand dialogue and communication at all levels between the two sides in conjunction with the African Union's Agenda 2063, and support the African Continental Free Trade Area Secretariat, the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, and Africa Integrated institutions such as the Broadcasting Union have established cooperation mechanisms with China.

China will continue to support Africa in speaking with one voice in international affairs and continuously enhancing its international status. China will actively promote the African Union to become a full member of the G20 at the G20 leaders' summit next month, support special arrangements to give priority to African demands on the reform of the UN Security Council, and call on multilateral financial institutions to enhance the voice of African countries.

In order to plan the next stage of China-Africa practical cooperation and help Africa's integration and modernization into the fast lane, I propose the following three measures:

-China is ready to launch the Initiative to Support Africa's Industrialization ". China will mobilize the enthusiasm of China's cooperative resources and enterprises with Africa, support Africa's development of manufacturing industry, industrialization and economic diversification. China will also combine the implementation of the "Nine Projects" of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation to promote assistance, investment and financing and other resources to favor industrialization projects.

-- China is willing to implement the "China's Program to Help Africa Modernize Agriculture". China will help Africa expand the cultivation of food crops, encourage Chinese enterprises to increase investment in Africa's agriculture, strengthen agricultural science and technology cooperation in seed industry and other agricultural science and technology, and help Africa's agricultural transformation and upgrading. In November this year, we will hold the second China-Africa Agricultural Cooperation Forum in Hainan.

In order to help Africa cope with the current food crisis, China will provide a new batch of emergency food aid to African countries in need. More importantly, China believes that Africa can achieve food self-sufficiency through its own efforts.

-- China is willing to implement the China-Africa Talent Training Cooperation Program ". China plans to train 500 principals and key teachers of vocational colleges and 10000 compound talents with "Chinese vocational skills" for Africa every year. China is willing to invite 20,000 government officials and technical personnel from African countries to participate in the seminar. In order to support Africa in improving its scientific and educational innovation capabilities, China will also implement the "China-Africa University 100-University Cooperation Program" and launch 10 pilot projects for China-Africa partner research institutes.

Colleagues!

In today's world, chaos is intertwined, and a century of change is accelerating its evolution. How to solve the development deficit, solve the security dilemma, and strengthen the mutual learning of civilizations are the issues of the times we are facing together. To this end, I have put forward the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, advocating peace, development, cooperation and win-win results, and promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, which has been widely supported by African countries. China and Africa are answering historical questions through joint exploration of the vivid practice of modernization, and work together to promote the great historical cause of win-win cooperation, harmony and coexistence, and the prosperity of civilization.

Next year, we will hold the next China-Africa Cooperation Forum in China, and China and Africa will once again discuss future development plans. This is a major event we are looking forward. I believe that China and Africa will further carry forward the traditional friendship, deepen unity and cooperation, and promote the vigorous development of cooperation in various fields. The joint efforts of China and Africa to advance the cause of modernization will surely create a better future for the people of both sides and set an example for promoting the building of a community with a shared future for mankind!

Thank you.