"after six years, i came to beijing to attend the summit again. it felt like home."
2024-09-09
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"this is my second time to come to beijing to attend the forum on china-africa cooperation summit. this time makes me feel like i'm back home," momodou jallow, a gambian reporter accompanying the delegation, told the beijing news.
in 2018, jallow accompanied gambian president adama barrow to beijing to attend the beijing summit of the forum on china-africa cooperation. at that time, gambia had just resumed diplomatic relations with china, and jallow was not very familiar with beijing. now that he has come to beijing again, jallow's feelings are very different from before. "i came here again, and i even felt like i was back home. i felt very relaxed, and the atmosphere of the meeting was very warm and welcoming."
the 2024 forum on china-africa cooperation summit was held in beijing from september 4 to 6. china and africa shared friendship, discussed cooperation and talked about the future around the theme of "jointly promoting modernization and building a high-level china-africa community with a shared future". many african leaders and the chairperson of the african union commission led delegations to attend the summit. the secretary-general of the united nations also attended the summit as a special guest, and relevant international and regional organizations also attended as observers.
"golden signboard"
entering the summit press center, the first thing that attracts people's attention is the special volunteer waiting at the comprehensive service desk - the interactive humanoid robot "xiaoqi". chinese and african journalists keep coming in and out for interactive consultation. around it, many chinese and african media teams are reporting in the press center. some turn on the camera to record news videos, while others are busy at their desks to organize manuscripts on the content of the meeting.
the busy news reports indirectly illustrate the scale of this china-africa cooperation forum summit. this year is another reunion of the china-africa friendship family after the 2006 beijing summit, the 2015 johannesburg summit and the 2018 beijing summit of the china-africa cooperation forum. it is also the largest home diplomacy held by china in recent years with the most foreign leaders attending.
wang yi, member of the political bureau of the cpc central committee and foreign minister, described the forum on china-africa cooperation as a "renowned brand" of china-africa cooperation in 2018. six years later, liu yuxi, the chinese government's special representative for african affairs, said that the forum on china-africa cooperation has become a "golden signboard" of china-africa cooperation and a banner leading international cooperation with africa and deepening cooperation in the global south.
on september 5, in the press center of the national convention center, reporters from various countries were busy watching the live broadcast and writing articles. photo by wang fei, a reporter from the beijing news
"on the one hand, the 'golden signboard' represents a kind of quality, indicating that china-africa cooperation is moving towards higher-quality development. on the other hand, it also represents the successful experience of china-africa cooperation, which can be extended to the whole and become a benchmark and model for cooperation among south-south countries." wang jinjie, deputy secretary-general of the center for african studies at peking university, told the beijing news.
compared with previous summits, this one also presents a different significance. wang jinjie said that judging from the background of the summit, it is of great significance to hold the forum on china-africa cooperation at this time, as we are now in the economic recovery period after the covid-19 pandemic and the global political and economic landscape is undergoing profound changes.
"both sides have experienced many difficulties and challenges during this period. china and africa have become more aware of the importance of mutual assistance. this meeting has further consolidated the cooperation and friendship between the two sides," said liu haifang, director of the center for african studies at peking university.
as a frontline participant, jalloh felt it most directly. "over the years, china-africa relations have continued to develop, which is also reflected in our mutual exchanges. the interaction between chinese and african media is also increasing, and more and more people are taking the initiative to understand the views and opinions of the african people. at the same time, the summit not only allows us to get in touch with china, but also serves as a platform for us to connect and cooperate with other african brothers and sisters."
“four major achievements”
on september 5, wang yi, member of the political bureau of the cpc central committee and foreign minister, met with chinese and foreign journalists together with foreign minister fall of senegal, the current african co-chair of the forum on china-africa cooperation, and foreign minister gakosso of the republic of congo, the next co-chair, to comprehensively introduce the outcomes of the 2024 forum on china-africa cooperation summit.
on september 5, wang yi (center), member of the political bureau of the cpc central committee and foreign minister, together with foreign minister falle of senegal (left), the current african co-chair of the forum on china-africa cooperation, and foreign minister gakosso of the republic of congo (right), the next co-chair, met with chinese and foreign journalists and answered questions. photo by xue jun, a reporter from the beijing news
wang yi said that the main achievements are reflected in the following four aspects: first, china has achieved full coverage of strategic partnerships with african countries that have diplomatic ties with china. the foundation of china-africa friendship is the solid bilateral relations between china and every african country. second, the overall relationship between china and africa has been upgraded to an all-weather community of shared destiny in the new era. third, the six major propositions for china and africa to jointly promote modernization have been clarified. realizing modernization is an inalienable legitimate right of developing countries. how to achieve modernization and what kind of modernization to achieve are historical issues facing the global south. fourth, an action blueprint for china-africa cooperation in the next stage has been formulated. the two sides adopted the beijing declaration and action plan to strengthen china-africa cooperation in the next three years. president xi jinping announced the ten major partnership actions that china will carry out with africa to jointly promote modernization in the next three years.
"in a nutshell, this summit has sent out a strong voice of the times for china and africa to seek common development, and demonstrated the firm confidence of the global south in unity and cooperation." wang yi said that the china-africa summit has illuminated the southern moment of building a community with a shared future for mankind.
wang jinjie told the beijing news that, in fact, the achievements in these four areas present a very clear logical chain. the full coverage of china's strategic partnership with african countries that have diplomatic ties with china is the foundation of china-africa friendship, and building an all-weather community with a shared future in the new era is a highly strategic approach to china-africa relations. under this framework, six major propositions for modernization are put forward, and then ten practical partner actions are put forward as a clear starting point. "from high-level policies to middle-level thinking, and finally to down-to-earth operations and pragmatism, the entire structure is logically clear and practically full."
it is worth noting that in recent years, when discussing china and africa working together to promote modernization, what kind of modernization to pursue has often been repeatedly raised as one of the key topics. wang jinjie pointed out that each country has specific resource endowments and development stages, and modernization has different definitions for different countries. the six major propositions for modernization proposed this time can be said to have very well refined and sorted out the common parts of the development of china and the african continent.
this also highlights the difference in china-africa cooperation to some extent. liu haifang said that the international cooperation africa has experienced is often "prescribed" by traditional powers, issued "instructions" and given directions for action. the cooperation between china and africa, especially the ten major partnership actions emphasized this time, is a joint effort by both sides to improve modernization, reflecting the characteristics of greater equality and greater respect for africa.
“realistic, pro-african cooperation”
at the end of the press conference, wang yi reviewed the historical context of china-africa relations when answering questions from cctv reporters.
wang yi said, "the china-africa friendship was forged in the struggle of both sides for national independence and liberation, and has been strengthened in the cause of common development and revitalization. entering the new era, president xi jinping proposed the policy concept of "real, pro-china and good faith" towards africa, which provides a fundamental guideline for promoting and sublimating the china-africa friendship. china-africa friendship has always been mutual. we have not forgotten that it was our african brothers who brought china into the united nations, stood firmly with china and safeguarded china's legitimate interests on the international stage, and provided valuable support for china's opening up and construction. china-africa mutually beneficial cooperation has a strong endogenous driving force and inevitable historical logic. the forum on china-africa cooperation is not only an important symbol of china-africa friendship, but also a glorious banner of south-south cooperation and a beacon leading international cooperation with africa."
wang yi said that in the long-term cooperation with africa, china has continuously formed valuable characteristics and adhered to its glorious traditions. first, china does not interfere in africa's internal affairs, provides assistance to africa sincerely, and never attaches any political conditions; second, china closely follows africa's development needs, attaches importance to the traction role of infrastructure, and also carries out "small but beautiful" projects that benefit the people's livelihood, helping africa to improve its independent development capabilities and transform its resource and population advantages into development strength and people's well-being; third, china does not engage in geopolitical games, opposes creating camp confrontations in africa, and opposes using africa for personal gain.
"these speeches reflect that china-africa cooperation has gone through decades of ups and downs. no matter what the historical background is, the two sides can always care for each other and help each other. as the theme of the times changes, china-africa relations can radiate new vitality. this is a cooperative relationship that can stand the test of history and has been witnessed on the global stage," said liu haifang.
when talking about the future of china-africa cooperation, liu haifang believes that the core of modernization is actually the all-round development of people. in the future, china-africa cooperation may further help improve the education level of young people, and in the cooperation led by enterprises, more consciously cultivate talents from the perspective of technological improvement.
beijing news reporter luan ruoxi
editor hu jie proofreader yang li
