Chinese Ambassador to Liberia, YIN Chengwu’s Writes on Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit 2024.
Monrovia, Liberia – From September 4th to 6th,2024 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was sucessfully held. The Heads of State, Government and delegation of China and 53 African countries and Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission participated in the summit, and the Secretary-General of the United Nations and representatives of more than 30 international and African regional organizations attended.
A big friendly gathering of China-Africa family again in China’s capital after six years, under the theme of “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future,” the two sides took stock of the journey of China-Africa friendship, commended the progress made in implementing the outcomes of FOCAC, and reached a clear political consensus on strengthening cooperation across the board. Two important documents, the Beijing Declaration on Jointly Building an All-Weather China-Africa Community with a Shared Future for the New Era and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2025-2027), were adopted unanimously.
Thanks to nearly 70 years of tireless efforts from both sides, the China-Africa relationship is now at its best in history. During the Summit, China has entered into strategic partnerships with all African countries having diplomatic ties with China, the characterization of the overall China-Africa relations was elevated to an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era. President Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Africa should advance modernization that is just and equitable, that is open and win-win, that puts the people first, that features diversity and inclusiveness, that is eco-friendly, and that is underpinned by peace and security.
In the next three years, China will work with Africa to take the following ten partnership actions for modernization. First, the Partnership Action for Mutual Learning among Civilizations. China is ready to work with Africa to build a platform for governance experience sharing, a China-Africa knowledge network for development,and invite 1,000 members of African political parties to China to deepen exchanges of experience in party and state governance. Second, the Partnership Action for Trade Prosperity. China will voluntarily and unilaterally open its market wider.
We have decided to give all African LDCs having diplomatic relations with China zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines. It will help turn China’s big market into Africa’s big opportunity. Third, the Partnership Action for Industrial Chain Cooperation. China will push forward the Pilot Zone for In-depth China-Africa Economic and Trade Cooperation, launch an “African SMEs empowerment program” and build with Africa a digital technology cooperation center.
Fourth, the Partnership Action for Connectivity. We are ready to put in place a China-Africa network featuring land-sea links and coordinated development for the benefit of trans-regional development in Africa. Fifth, the Partnership Action for Development Cooperation. China is ready to implement 1,000 “small and beautiful” livelihood projects and work together with Africa to deliver more fruits of development to the two peoples. Sixth, the Partnership Action for Health. China is ready to establish with Africa a hospitals alliance and joint medical centers, send 2,000 medical personnel to Africa and support the development of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Seventh, the Partnership Action for Agriculture and Livelihoods.
China will provide emergency food assistance, build standardized agriculture demonstration areas,and create at least one million jobs for Africa. Eighth, the Partnership Action for People-to-People Exchanges. China will implement with Africa more solidly the Future of Africa-Vocational Education Cooperation Plan, provide 60,000 training opportunities to Africa,and the two sides have agreed to designate 2026 as the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges. Ninth, the Partnership Action for Green Development.
China is ready to launch 30 clean energy projects in Africa, establish together 30 joint laboratories, and collaborate on satellite remote sensing and lunar and deep-space exploration. Tenth, the Partnership Action for Common Security. China is ready to build with Africa a partnership for implementing the Global Security Initiative, and make it a fine example of Global Security Initiative cooperation. We will provide training for military personnel and police and law enforcement officers from Africa.
Africa is a big stage for international cooperation, not an arena for major-power rivalry. We believe that the better the China-Africa cooperation develops, the more investment other countries will make in Africa. China will uphold its longstanding tradition of cooperation with Africa, does not interfere in Africa’s internal affairs, and will closely align with Africa’s development needs. China will avoid geopolitical games, oppose provoking camp confrontation in Africa, and reject the exploitation of Africa for personal gains.
The two sides agreed to firmly support each other on issues involving their respective core interests, defend the common interests of developing countries, and promote international fairness and justice. The two sides agreed to follow true multilateralism, implement the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, and champion an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. The two sides agreed to reject “small yard, high fence,” oppose discrimination and prejudice, redress historical injustices, and ensure that all will benefit from the modernization process.
Liberia is an important participant and contributor to the FOCAC, and China is Liberia’s good and reliable friend and partner. On September 6th, President Xi and President Joseph Nyumah Boakai, Sr., held a bilateral meeting, the two heads of state announced the elevation of the China-Liberia relationship to a strategic partnership.
China is ready to strengthen exchanges and dialogue with Liberia, support each other on issues related to each other’s respective core interests and major concerns, and safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests. China is ready to provide support to the best of its ability for Liberia’s infrastructure construction and strengthen cooperation in maritime transport, agriculture, resources development and other fields, continuously lift the strategic partnership between the two countries to new levels. During the summit, China and Liberia signed bilateral cooperation documents in maritime transport and other fields.
The friendship between China and Africa transcends time and space, surmounts mountains and oceans, and passes down through generations. Look to the future, China will continue to follow the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, actively implement the outcomes of the Summit of FOCAC, closely aligning the Chinese modernization process with the AU Agenda 2063 and the Liberian ARREST Agenda.
On the basis of equality and mutual respect, we will work with the Liberian side to build an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era, promote modernization of the Global South with China-Liberia modernization and China-Africa modernization, join hands to bring about a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress for our world!
