Beijing September 4 2024
Your Excellency President Bassirou Diomaye Faye
Distinguished Colleagues and Your Spouses
Friends and Distinguished Guests
Good evening!
It is my great pleasure to meet you here on the eve of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). On behalf of the Chinese government and people and in the name of my wife and myself I extend a warm welcome to you all.
To quote a Chinese poem “True friends always feel close to each other no matter the distance between them.” I have been to Africa 10 times and hosted many African leaders in China. All our meetings have been cordial and heartwarming. They have reinforced my belief that the China-Africa community with a shared future is built on a strong foundation has been blessed with a good start and enjoys broad prospects. It sets a stellar example for building a community with a shared future for mankind.
The China-Africa community with a shared future is deeply rooted in our traditional friendship. Since the mid-20th century we have been fighting shoulder to shoulder imperialism colonialism and hegemonism and advancing hand in hand along the path of development revitalization and modernization. China-Africa friendship remains robust and is growing stronger through generations no matter how the world changes.
The China-Africa community with a shared future thrives on the strength of win-win cooperation. Twenty-four years ago FOCAC was born at the dawn of a new century. Through this key cooperation platform we have together built roads railways schools hospitals industrial parks and special economic zones. These projects have changed the lives and destiny of many people.
The China-Africa community with a shared future grows in step with the times. Following the Eighth FOCAC Ministerial Conference in Dakar in 2021 we have worked together to fully implement the nine programs and deliver on other outcomes of the meeting. We pulled together in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic. We maintained close cooperation and coordination on major international and regional issues. Together we have made the voice of the Global South stronger.
Friends and Distinguished Guests
We human beings have been dreaming of a community with a shared future and modernization is what it takes to turn our dream into reality. China and Africa have been and remain pioneers in building this community and we will stay at the forefront in pursuing modernization. I am confident that as long as the 2.8 billion-strong Chinese and African people are united for this common goal we will accomplish new and even greater feats together on the way toward modernization spearhead the modernization drive of the Global South and make greater contributions to a community with a shared future for mankind.
Now I would like to propose a toast;
To the prosperity of China and African countries and the well-being of our people;
To the everlasting friendship between the Chinese and African people;
To the success of the Summit; and
To the health of all distinguished guests and your families.
Cheers!
