Xi Jinping chaired the China-Africa Solidarity Anti-epidemic Summit and delivered a keynote speech
Pointing out that China and Africa have been severely tested by the epidemic situation, and friendship and mutual trust have been further consolidated,
Emphasizing that China and Africa must unswervingly work together to fight the epidemic, promote China-Africa cooperation, practice multilateralism, and promote China-Africa friendship,
Work together to build a China-Africa health community and promote high-level development of China-Africa comprehensive strategic partnership
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, June 17th: President Xi Jinping hosted the China-Africa Solidarity and Anti-epidemic Special Summit in Beijing on the evening of the 17th and delivered a keynote speech titled "Unity in Fighting against Epidemic Diseases and Overcoming Difficulties". Xi Jinping emphasized that in the face of the epidemic situation, China and Africa have solidarity with each other and fight side by side, China and Africa are more united, and friendship and mutual trust are more consolidated. China cherishes the traditional friendship between China and Africa. No matter how the international situation changes, China's determination to strengthen China-Africa solidarity and cooperation will never be shaken. China will continue to fully support African anti-epidemic actions. Both sides should uphold the people first, life first, do their utmost to protect the safety of people's lives and health, unswervingly fight the epidemic, unswervingly promote China-Africa cooperation, unswervingly practice multilateralism, unswervingly promote China-Africa friendship To jointly build the China-Africa health community and the closer China-Africa community of destiny. The conference issued the "Joint Statement of the China-Africa Solidarity and Anti-epidemic Summit", which sent a strong voice of the times of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation to the international community.
The summit was co-sponsored by China and the African Union’s rotating chairmanship, South Africa, and the China-Africa Cooperation Forum Senegal, and was co-chaired by video. South African President Ramaphosa, Senegal President Sale and Egyptian President Sisi, Congo (DRC) President Chisekdi, Algerian President Teben, Gabon President Bongo, Kenyan President Kenyatta, Mali President Keita, and Niger President Isofo, Nigerian President Buhari, Rwandan President Kagame, Zimbabwean President Mangangwa, Ethiopian Prime Minister Abbi and AU Commission Chairman Faki attended. United Nations Secretary General Guterres and World Health Organization Director General Tan Desai attended the meeting as special guests.
Wang Huning, member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of the Central Secretariat, attended the meeting.
In his speech, Xi Jinping pointed out that at an important moment in the global fight against the epidemic of New Coronary Pneumonia, we held this China-Africa Special Summit and met with new and old friends through video to discuss plans for uniting the anti-epidemic and recount the brotherhood between China and Africa. The sudden outbreak of this epidemic has severely impacted countries around the world and claimed the precious lives of hundreds of thousands of people. I propose to express our condolences to the relatives who have died in the epidemic.
Xi Jinping emphasized that in the face of the epidemic, China and Africa supported each other and fought side by side, the two sides became more united, and friendship and mutual trust were strengthened. China cherishes the traditional friendship between China and Africa. No matter how the international situation changes, China's determination to strengthen China-Africa solidarity and cooperation will never be shaken.
Xi Jinping pointed out that the current epidemic situation is still spreading globally. Both China and Africa are faced with the arduous task of fighting the epidemic situation, stabilizing the economy and protecting people's livelihood. We must uphold the people first, life first, pool resources, unite and cooperate, do our best to protect people's lives and health, and minimize the negative impact of the epidemic.
First, we must unswervingly fight the epidemic. China will continue to fully support African anti-epidemic actions, continue to provide material assistance to African countries, send medical expert groups, and assist African parties to purchase anti-epidemic materials in China. China will start construction of the headquarters of the African Center for Disease Control in advance of this year, and work with the African side to implement the "Health and Health Action" within the framework of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, accelerate the construction of China-Africa friendly hospitals and cooperation with China-Africa counterpart hospitals, and jointly build China-Africa health. community. China promises that after the new crown vaccine is developed and put into use, it is willing to take the lead in benefiting African countries.
Second, we must unswervingly promote China-Africa cooperation. China will forgive the interest-free loan debts of relevant African countries due to the end of 2020 within the framework of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, and work with the international community to increase support for African countries with particularly severe epidemics and pressure, including further extensions Debt relief period. China encourages relevant financial institutions in China to consult with the G20 Debt Relief Initiative and conduct friendly consultations with African countries on commercial sovereign loan arrangements in accordance with market principles. China will work with the G20 members to implement the G20 debt relief initiative, and calls on the G20 to further extend the debt relief period for relevant countries, including African countries, based on the implementation of the current debt relief initiative. It is hoped that the international community, especially developed countries and multilateral financial institutions, will take stronger action on debt relief in Africa. China is willing to cooperate with the United Nations, the World Health Organization, and other partners in aiding Africa and fighting the epidemic, on the basis of respecting the will of the African side. China supports the construction of the free trade zone on the African continent, supports Africa in strengthening connectivity and ensuring the supply chain construction of the industrial chain, and is willing to expand cooperation with the African side in new formats such as the digital economy, smart cities, clean energy, and 5G.
Third, we must firmly practice multilateralism. China is willing to work with Africa to maintain the global governance system with the United Nations at its core and support the World Health Organization to make greater contributions to the global fight against epidemics. We are opposed to politicizing the epidemic and labeling the virus, opposing racial discrimination and ideological prejudice, and firmly defending international fairness and justice.
Fourth, we must unswervingly promote China-Africa friendship. I would like to maintain close contact with my colleagues, strengthen friendship and mutual trust, support each other on issues involving each other's core interests, jointly safeguard the fundamental interests of China and Africa, and promote the high-level development of China-Africa comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership.
Xi Jinping finally emphasized that at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, we unanimously decided to build a closer community of shared destiny between China and Africa. Today we convene a special summit for unity against epidemic disease, that is, to implement the commitments of the Beijing summit with practical actions, and also to contribute to international cooperation against epidemic disease. I believe that mankind will eventually overcome the epidemic, and the people of China and Africa will eventually live a better life.
Foreign leaders said in their speeches that it is of special significance to convene a special summit of China-Africa solidarity and anti-epidemic at the critical time of the spread of the new crown pneumonia in the world and in Africa, and once again demonstrated the solidity of Africa-China friendship and the relationship between Africa and China toughness. China and African countries support each other, help each other, help each other with difficulties, and provide valuable assistance and support in various aspects such as materials, technology, and experience for the African side to fight the epidemic. African countries are deeply grateful. The epidemic is an unprecedented and severe global crisis. Only by strengthening solidarity, adhering to multilateralism, and supporting the role of international organizations such as the World Health Organization can all parties in the international community win in the end. The African side calls on the relevant creditor countries and international financial institutions to further reduce the debt of African countries, strengthen cooperation in diagnosis, treatment, medicine, vaccine research and development, etc., and help African countries enhance their ability to respond to the epidemic, restore the economy, and achieve independent and sustainable development. In this regard, China has set an example and proved with practical actions that China is a good friend and good partner in Africa 24/7. The African side is firmly committed to the development of a comprehensive strategic partnership of cooperation between Africa and China, jointly building a health community in Africa and China, and promoting the building of a community of shared future for mankind. The traditional friendship between China and Africa is everlasting.
The meeting was pragmatic and efficient, and an important consensus was reached in a positive and friendly atmosphere. The summit issued the "Joint Statement of the China-Africa Solidarity Anti-epidemic Summit". China and Africa are determined to deepen China-Africa friendship, strengthen mutual support, and strive to build a closer community of shared future for China and Africa. The results of the summit are more inclined to the fields of health and well-being, resumption of production and improvement of people's livelihood; uphold multilateralism, oppose the politicization of the epidemic, and safeguard international fairness and justice.
Ding Xuexiang, Sun Chunlan, Wang Yi, He Lifeng and others participated.