BEIJING (Halbeeg News) – The Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is expected to begin today as leaders of African countries and China convened in the Chinese capital Beijing.
Themed “China and Africa: Toward an Even Stronger Community with a Shared Future through Win-Win Cooperation,” the summit will be a significant diplomatic event hosted by China this year and attended by the largest number of leaders since its inception.
The summit aims to build a closer China-Africa community with a shared future, further dovetail China’s Belt and Road Initiative with African development, set a new path for a higher level of China-Africa cooperation and deepen people-to-people exchanges.
According to Li Dan, director of Africa Studies Center of China Foreign Affairs University who spoke Xinhua, the cooperation would not only be enhanced in traditional areas but also expanded to the environment, peace, and security.
By promoting innovation, coordination and sub-regional cooperation, all members will benefit from the outcomes of the summit.
The summit will link the Belt and Road Initiative with the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and individual countries’ development plans to explore new territory for Africa’s revival.
“African countries have been positive about the Belt and Road Initiative,” Li Dan said. “Clearer answers as to how and where they can participate are also expected from the summit.”
The summit will conclude with the signing of a declaration and an action plan, providing guidelines for China-Africa cooperation for the next three years.
The documents are expected to build on the outcomes of the Johannesburg summit, during which Xi announced 10 major cooperation plans to promote industrialization and agricultural modernization in Africa. Most of the plans have been implemented.
“For three years, cooperation between China and Africa has deepened and political mutual trust promoted,” said Li Dan. “It is expected that the Beijing summit will offer a more comprehensive plan that reflects the new situation.”
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