On the evening of June 17, Beijing time, a special summit on China-Africa solidarity and anti-epidemic co-sponsored by China and the African Union’s rotating presidency, South Africa, and the China-Africa Cooperation Forum co-chair, Senegal, was held in video format. President Xi Jinping chaired this special summit And delivered a keynote speech entitled "Unite against Epidemic Diseases and Overcome Difficulties".
At an important moment in the global fight against the new coronary pneumonia epidemic, Chinese and foreign leaders crossed different time zones and gathered in the form of video conferences. President Xi solemnly promised: "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." "We must uphold the people first, life first, pool resources, unite and cooperate, and do everything possible. Do our best to protect people's lives and health, and minimize the negative impact of the epidemic."
This special summit held at this critical moment once again highlights the brotherhood between China and Africa.
In 2013, on the eve of his first visit to China since President Xi Jinping took the post of President of the People’s Republic of China, he said in a joint interview with the BRICS media: "A family in China and Africa. My Chinese, my age, grew up in a warm atmosphere of friendship between China and Africa. He has a strong interest in Africa, and is familiar with the names of older generation leaders of some African countries, as well as the Tanzania-Zambia Railway and other Sino-African friendship stories.
"The river has deep springs." Although China and Africa are separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, China-Africa friendly exchanges are full of momentum and have a long history.
The people of China and Africa always remember that in the 1950s and 1960s, Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and other first-generation leaders of New China and the older generation of politicians in Africa jointly started a new era of China-Africa relations. Since then, the people of China and Africa have supported and sincerely cooperated with each other, and forged a brotherly friendship of shared breath, shared destiny and heart-to-heart.
The people of China and Africa will not forget that the Tanzania-Zambia Railway and the AU Conference Center, aided by China, have become monuments of China-Africa friendship. The Chinese government and people took the lead in the aid to Africa against Ebola, led the international community in aid to Africa, and interpreted the brotherhood between China and Africa. African countries selflessly support China’s return to the United Nations, and donated to China after severe earthquakes in Wenchuan and Yushu, China...
"I grew up in the warm atmosphere of China-Africa friendship," Xi Jinping, with deep feelings for the African people, was elected President of the country in 2013 and re-elected as President of the country in 2018. His first trip included Africa. A continent full of hope." So far, he himself has set foot on the African hotspot nine times, including four visits to Africa in his capacity as the President of China.
"China and Africa have always been a community of shared destiny. The common historical encounters and common struggles have enabled the people of China and Africa to form a profound friendship." "No matter what step China develops in, China will always treat African countries as its own troubles. "Communicate." History and years tell of this traditional friendship, and also witness the brotherhood of China and Africa who share the same heart and help each other.
In 2020, the epidemic of New Coronary Pneumonia is spreading in the world. In the face of an unprecedented crisis, China and Africa are in solidarity with each other and fighting side by side.
President Xi has made five phone calls with leaders of four African countries, including Ethiopia, Egypt, Namibia, and South Africa, to express his determination to unite against the epidemic and to unite brotherhood between China and Africa.
"The root of the roots is actually the one who anoints them," said Chairman Xi. "In the face of the epidemic, China and Africa are more united, and friendship and mutual trust are more consolidated."
China and Africa share the same sentiment, the same idea, and the dream is connected, is a community of shared destiny and a community of interests of win-win cooperation. History has repeatedly proven that China’s development will be smoother and Africa’s development will be smoother; Africa’s development will be smoother and China’s development will be better.
At the China-Africa Solidarity Anti-epidemic Special Summit, facing the three arduous tasks of China-Africa Anti-epidemic Situation, Stabilizing the Economy, and Protecting People's Livelihood, President Xi proposed four "unswerving", that is, unswervingly work together to fight against the epidemic, unswervingly Promote China-Africa cooperation, unswervingly practice multilateralism, and unswervingly promote China-Africa friendship.
Over the years, the scope of China-Africa cooperation has become wider and wider. From trade, investment, infrastructure construction to personnel training, poverty reduction and income increase, medical assistance, and cultural exchanges, cooperation between the two parties in all fields has blossomed.
In December 2015, the China-Africa Cooperation Forum Johannesburg Summit will promote the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership to a comprehensive strategic partnership. At this summit, President Xi proposed to strengthen and consolidate the "five pillars" and focus on implementing the "ten major cooperation plans." At the Beijing Summit in 2018, new actions and new initiatives such as the "Eight Actions" were released.
At the China-Africa Solidarity Anti-epidemic Summit, President Xi proposed that "China will start construction of the headquarters of the African Centers for Disease Control and Prevention within this year", "After the new crown vaccine is developed and put into use, it is willing to take the lead in benefiting African countries." Tendency to the fields of health and hygiene, resumption of production and improvement of people's livelihood"...
Many pragmatic measures of China-Africa joining hands in the fight against epidemic disease and solidarity and cooperation are precisely the implementation of the Beijing Summit commitments with practical actions. This commitment is profound and meaningful, and it also contributes to international cooperation in the fight against epidemics.
In 2017, the total population of China and Africa exceeded 2.6 billion people, accounting for about 35% of the world's total population; the area of Central Africa reached 39.8 million square kilometers, accounting for about 30% of the world's total land area (except Antarctica). China-Africa relations are advancing, that is, one third of the world is advancing. When the "Chinese Dragon" and the "African Lion" join hands to unite against the epidemic and overcome the difficulties together, there will undoubtedly gather the wisdom and strength of more than 2.6 billion people to move towards a better future together.
As President Xi said: "Humanity will eventually overcome the epidemic, and the people of China and Africa will eventually lead a better life."