Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, June 18th-On the evening of June 17, President Xi Jinping hosted the Special Summit on China-Africa Solidarity and Anti-epidemic in Beijing and delivered a keynote speech titled "Unity and Anti-epidemic and Overcoming Difficulties".
At present, the new crown epidemic is still spreading around the world. Both China and Africa are faced with the arduous task of fighting the epidemic, stabilizing the economy and protecting people's livelihood.
At this summit, President Xi proposed four "unswervingly" to point out the direction for China-Africa anti-epidemic cooperation and draw a blueprint for the future of China-Africa relations. A sentence of sincere initiative and a pragmatic measure let African countries feel the brotherly Chinese friendship, and let the international community feel the united and anti-epidemic China.
In the face of the sudden new crown epidemic, China and Africa solidarity with each other, fighting side by side, vividly interpreted the brotherhood of suffering and mutual help. At the summit, President Xi made it clear that 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.
To support the fight against the epidemic in Africa, President Xi proposed a series of pragmatic measures such as "starting construction of the headquarters of the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in advance during the year", "accelerating the construction of China-Africa friendship hospitals and cooperation between Chinese and African counterpart hospitals".
"After the new crown vaccine has been developed and put into use, it is willing to take the lead in benefiting African countries." This Chinese commitment is profound.
How to overcome the impact of the epidemic on the economic development of African countries and pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa? President Xi pointed out that China and Africa should strengthen cooperation in the joint construction of the “Belt and Road”, accelerate the implementation of the outcome of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and tilt the focus of cooperation to the areas of health and hygiene, resumption of production and production, and improvement of people's livelihood.
At the opening ceremony of the video conference of the 73rd World Health Assembly held not long ago, President Xi promised that China will work with members of the G20 to implement the "Debt Relief Initiative for the Poorest Countries." At the summit, President Xi made it clear that within the framework of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, China will forgive the interest-free loan debts of relevant African countries due to China by the end of 2020, and work with the international community to increase the pressure and pressure on the epidemic. The support of major African countries includes further extension of the debt relief period.
Recently, multilateralism has encountered a counter-current, racist scum has risen, individual countries have attempted to politicize the epidemic, and international fairness and justice are facing challenges. At this summit, President Xi made it clear: "Unity and cooperation are the most powerful weapons to fight the epidemic. China is willing to work with Africa to maintain the global governance system with the United Nations at its core and support WHO to make greater efforts to fight global epidemics. contribution."
President Xi also pointed out: "We are against politicizing the epidemic and labeling the virus, opposing racial discrimination and ideological prejudice, and firmly defending international fairness and justice."
The world today is undergoing major changes not seen in a century. As President Xi said, "Facing new opportunities and challenges, China and Africa need more cooperation than ever before."
In the Joint Statement of the China-Africa Solidarity and Anti-epidemic Summit, there is such a clear statement: "According to the spirit of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum and the philosophy that the two sides have always upheld, we continue to support each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns. China supports African countries in exploring a development path that suits their national conditions, and opposes external forces interfering in Africa’s internal affairs. The African side supports China’s position on the Taiwan and Hong Kong issues and supports China’s efforts to maintain national security in Hong Kong according to law."
With mutual understanding and firm support, China and Africa once again demonstrated the brotherhood between China and Africa through practical actions, and interpreted the profound meaning of China-Africa Community of Destiny.
(Reporters: Wang Zhao, Xing Jianqiao, Wu Danni, Guo Jun, Bai Lin, Wang Jiangang, Chen Junxia, Jing Jing, Gao Zhu; Photography: Ju Peng, Huang Jingwen, Ding Haitao; Drafting: Wang Yachen, Chen Shan; produced by Xinhua News Agency International Department)