|
China’s President Xi Commits to Africa Modernization, Amidst a More Just International Order
26 August 2023
EIRNS—Speaking at the China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue on Aug. 24, which followed the Aug. 22-24 BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa, China’s President Xi Jinping gave an overview and details of upcoming activities and commitments, under the title, “Joining Hands To Advance Modernization and Create a Great Future for China and Africa.” He co-moderated the Leaders’ Dialogue with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, whose office reports that China initiated the idea for such a roundtable. Presidents Ramaphosa and Xi issued a joint statement. Xi Jinping expressed his great joy at returning to Africa (his 10th visit), after five years. He praised Africa’s strides on the path of independence, noting that it now was “becoming an important pole with great influence.” While China was moving toward its Second Centenary Goal of building a modern socialist country in all respects, Africa was moving toward the bright prospects envisioned in the African Union’s Agenda 2063. “China and Africa must work together to create a sound environment for realizing our respective development visions,” Xi said. The many institutions he named, through collaboration will progress, are the Belt and Road, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and many African agencies, including the African Union, the AfCFTA Secretariat, the Pan-African Payment and Settlement System, and the African Union of Broadcasting. President Xi declared:
President Xi said that China-Africa collaboration involves “working together to promote a just and equitable international order,” opposing “vestiges of colonialism and hegemonism in all forms.” The two sides should also “work together to safeguard a peaceful and secure global environment.... Africa is working unremittingly for the goal of silencing the guns,” he said, referring to Africa’s proposals for peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine. Thirdly, the two sides should be “working together to build an open and inclusive world economy.” He went on:
The African leaders spoke highly of the China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue and thanked China for supporting African integration and assisting African countries in times of need. They commended China’s new initiatives and expressed support for the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative put forward by President Xi. In his concluding comments, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa underlined, “Sustained engagement with China as one of the supporters of strategic development projects is critical. ... We have acknowledged the importance of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation as a means of deepening collaboration in the cause of development.” The next meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will take place in 2024 in China. |