Chinese FM delivers report at FOCAC ministerial conference

Third, China-Africa people-to-people and cultural exchanges have thrived, and the popular support for our traditional friendship has grown stronger. China-Africa exchanges between peoples, think tanks, higher education institutions and media have flourished. By the end of 2014, we had carried out 141 programs in 49 African countries under "China-Africa" people-to-people friendship action", promoting social welfare and helping vulnerable groups. China-Africa joint research and exchange plan was implemented smoothly, completing all the 100 research programs within three years. Long-term partnerships have been established between 20 paired higher education institutions and research institutes in China and Africa. China-Africa Press Exchange Center invited 19 journalists from 17 African countries to China for long-term visits and exchanges. Media outlets from any African countries, including South Africa, Nigeria and Ghana, sent delegations to visit China, and Chinese mainstream media increased on-site reporting in Africa.

China-Africa cultural exchanges have been further expanded. Programs such as Cultures in Focus, China-Africa mutual visits by cultural personnel and China-Africa Cultural Cooperation Partnership have been implemented smoothly. Cultural exchanges are increasingly vigorous. The Year of China in South African leader, together with other African leaders, will attend the closing ceremony gala of the Year of China in South Africa.

China-Africa cultural and tourism links are increasingly stronger. So far, 45 Confucius Institutes and 24 Confucius Classrooms have been established in Africa and 24 African countries have become destinations of outbound Chinese tourist groups. In 2014, 3,062,400 Chinese nationals made Africa the first stop of their trips, registering a year-on-year increase of 61.65%.

Fourth, China-Africa peace and security cooperation has made steady progress and covered more areas. China actively implemented the Initiative on China-Africa Cooperative Partnership for Peace and Security, and supported African countries and regional organization in strengthening their capacity for maintaining peace and stability. China continued to provide funding for AU peacekeeping operations in Somalia. In September this year, President Xi pledged during the UN General Assembly session US$100 million of free military aid to the AU to support the building of the African Standby Force and the African Capacity for Immediate Response to Crisis.

China firmly supports Africans in addressing African issues in an African way, actively facilitates peace talks, and pushes for political settlement of hotspot issues in Africa. Early this year, the Special Consultation in Support of the IGAD-led South Sudan Peace Process was held at China's initiates, representing an active effort to find solutions to hotspot African issues through a distinct Chinese approach. The Special Representatives of the Chinese Government on African Affairs visited Africa frequently on mediation mission to resolve hotspot issues.  

China has spoken up for African at the UN and on other multilateral occasions, and taken an active part in UN peacekeeping and escort missions in Africa. Today, more than 2,700 Chinese peacekeepers are working in seven UN operations in Africa, making China the largest contributor of peacekeepers among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council. Since 2009, China has been consistently engaged in escort missions in the Gulf of Aden and the waters off the coast of Somalia.

Fifth, the mechanisms of the FOCAC have been improving, making it an important hallmark of China-Africa cooperation. All FOCAC mechanisms have been running effectively. The political consultation between Chinese and African foreign ministers on the sidelines of the UN General Assembly and Senior Officials Meeting were held on schedule. The Secretariat of the Chinese Follow-up Committee conducted 14 rounds of consultations with African diplomatic missions in China, communicating and coordinating effectively on FOCAC matters and China-African cooperation.

Important headway has been made in building sub-forums of FOCAC. Sub-forums on people-to-people exchanges, media, law and think tanks are more and more mature. New sub-forums, such as the Ministerial Forum on China-Africa Health Cooperation, ministerial dialogue on environmental protection cooperation, roundtable conference on the cultural industry, media forum and industrial park forum, are also emerging. All of this has enriched China-Africa cooperation, expended the influence of FOCAC, and continued to play an exemplary and guiding role in international cooperation with Africa.

Colleagues,

China-Africa cooperation over the past three years has produced fruitful and tangible results, bringing real benefits to the peoples of China and Africa. This fully testifies to the purposes of the forum, which aims to promote solidarity, development and cooperation. This is also the source of its strength and appeal.

This year marks the 15th anniversary of FOCAC, China-Africa relations now stand at a new historical starting point and our cooperation faces rare historical opportunities. The theme of this summit is "Africa-China Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development".

It speaks to the sincere and friendly nature of China-Africa relations, reflects and the need of the times to build a new type of international relations and envisages a great future for China-Africa cooperation. At the summit, China will propose an upgrading of China-Africa strategic partnership to better reflect the dynamics of this relationship and guide its future growth. In relation to theme, China will put forward a comprehensive package of new measures to support Africa's development, promote China-Africa cooperation, and push for better and faster growth of China-Africa relations to the benefit of both people.

I look forward to sincere cooperation with all my colleagues present to successfully accomplish the tasks of this ministerial conference and lay a solid foundation for tomorrow's summit. I believe with our concerted efforts, the summit will be a resounding success.

Thank you.