By Xi Jinping
Chinese people are currently committed to realising the Chinese dream of the great rejuvenation of the Chinese nation while African people are striving for the African dream of self-development through unity and growth.
People in China and Africa should strengthen unity and co-operation and support and help each other to make their respective dreams come true.
At the same time, they should also work with the international community to push for the realisation of the world dream of lasting peace and common prosperity, so that we can make greater contributions to the peace and development of mankind.
Friendly exchanges between China and Africa have had a long history.
In the 1950s and 1960s, the first-generation PRC leaders including Chairman Mao Zedong and Premier Zhou Enlai and the older-generation African statesmen together opened a new era in China-Africa relations.
From then on, the Chinese and Africans, in their anti-colonial and anti-imperialist struggle for national independence and liberation as well as on their roads towards development, have supported and co-operated with each other and forged a brotherly bond sharing a common fate.
At present, with the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Co-operation and a new type of strategic partnership, China-Africa relations have entered a fast-track of all-round development.
Friendship and co-operation between the Chinese and African people has become the defining feature of bilateral ties, which is relished by the international community.
History has taught us that China-Africa ties have been forged and sealed in adversity, built on one concrete step after another.
China and Africa have always been a community of shared destinies, and similar historical experiences, common development tasks, as well as shared strategic interests have bound the two sides together.
Galloping lion
China-Africa relations are featured by sincerity, friendliness, mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development.
China has done what it can to help Africa’s development, and China is always grateful to African countries and peoples for the firm support and selfless help given to China over the years. History has also shown that China-Africa relations must keep pace with the times and forge ahead in a pioneering spirit.
China-Africa relations have reached a new historic starting point, with Africa becoming one of the fastest growing regions and moving ahead like a “galloping African lion,” and China continuing to maintain forward momentum in development. Promotion of China-Africa co-operation is the shared aspiration of the people on both sides.
Under new circumstances, China-Africa relations have become more important with greater common interests, instead of less important with fewer common interests. China will intensify, not weaken, its efforts to expand relations with Africa.
In treating African friends, China will remain faithful. Unity and co-operation with African countries have always been an important foundation for China’s foreign policy, which will never change, not even when China grows stronger and enjoys a higher international status.
China and Africa will continue to support each other on issues involving their core interests and major concerns, and China will remain committed to Africa’s endeavour to seek strength through unity and make greater contribution to peace and development in Africa.
Second, in conducting co-operation with Africa, China will value real results. China will faithfully honor whatever commitments it has made to Africa, and continue to offer, as always, necessary assistance to Africa with no political strings attached.
Third, in strengthening friendship with Africa, China will seek to cultivate kinship-like qualities in the relationship.
The Chinese and African people are naturally attached to each other. Greater value should be placed on people-to-people exchanges between China and Africa, especially exchanges between their youths, so that their friendship can be passed on to the younger generations.
Mutual respect
Fourth, in addressing problems in co-operation with Africa, China will be sincere. China will face squarely and sincerely the new developments and new problems confronting relations with Africa. And the two sides should properly handle any problem that may arise in a spirit of mutual respect and win-win co-operation.
China has made historic progress in its development, but whatever development stage it is in, China will always regard African countries as its real friends, with a friendship that has been sealed in adversity.
China cannot develop and isolate itself from the world and Africa, while the world and Africa also need China for prosperity and stability.
Speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at Julius Nyerere International Convention Center in Dar es Salaam, on March 25, on historical experience of China-Africa relations and policy of working with Africa.
