On April 13, 2020, State Councilor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Wang Yi held a telephone conversation with Faki, chairman of the African Union Commission.
Wang Yi said that China and Africa are all-round strategic cooperation partners and should strengthen coordination and cooperation to work together to meet the common challenge of the new coronary pneumonia epidemic. At a difficult time for China's anti-epidemic struggle, the African Union and African countries have given China solidarity and help, expressly opposing individual countries to politicize the epidemic and label the virus. This fully embodies the brotherhood between China and Africa and the high level of strategic cooperation between China and Africa, which China has in mind.
Wang Yi pointed out that the current epidemic is spreading in Africa. President Xi Jinping specifically spoke with leaders of African countries such as South Africa and Egypt to express condolences and support, and called on the international community to increase aid to Africa at the G20 Leaders ’Special Summit. Under the situation of anti-epidemic pressure, China urgently assisted African brothers and provided a large amount of scarce anti-epidemic materials to the African Union and African countries in a timely manner through various channels. As the epidemic develops, China will provide more medical supplies needed in Africa, share anti-epidemic experience with African brothers, send medical expert groups to Africa, and assist African parties to purchase anti-epidemic materials in China, and deepen China-Africa cooperation in the field of public health. China will stand firmly with the African side and fight in solidarity with African brothers and sisters until the African continent completely defeats the virus.
Regarding some of the problems that African friends have reflected in the anti-epidemic work carried out by the local government of China, Wang Yi emphasized that China is committed to maintaining the health and safety of all Chinese and foreign personnel, treats all foreign personnel in China as equals, and opposes any differential practices targeting specific groups of people. China has always adhered to its friendly policy towards Africa, and both sides are good brothers and good comrades in the same boat. The traditional friendship between China and Africa has experienced the test of history and international conditions. It is rock-solid and unbreakable. It will never be affected by a single incident, nor will it be disturbed by the provoke of certain forces. Under the current situation, China and African countries more than ever need mutual trust, mutual support, solidarity and hardship.
Faki said that I fully agree with State Councilor Wang Yi's evaluation of Africa-China friendship. African countries and China are all-round strategic cooperation partners. Both sides are friends and comrades in arms. They are closely linked to each other's destiny, and nothing can change or damage Africa-China friendship. We know that China is working hard to prevent the epidemic from rebounding, and we believe that China will never adopt discriminatory practices. Faki stressed that the African side will not forget China ’s support and assistance for Africa in winning national liberation and national independence, eliminating apartheid, and seeking economic and social development. Special thanks to China for its emergency assistance in combating the outbreak of new coronary pneumonia in Africa. Maintaining a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between Africa and China is a sacred mission shared by both sides. Some forces try to use the current situation to provoke Africa-China friendship. We will never let them succeed. The African side is willing to continue to stand firmly with China.