President of the People’s Republic of China Xi Jinping
Dear President Ramaphosa,
Dear President Sale,
Dear Heads of State and Government,
Dear Mr. Faki, Chairman of the African Union Commission,
Dear Mr. Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations,
Dear Mr. Tan Desai, Director General of the World Health Organization,
At an important moment in the global fight against the New Coronary Pneumonia epidemic, we held this China-Africa special summit. We met with new and old friends through video to discuss the plan for the fight against the epidemic and the brotherhood between China and Africa. Thank you President Ramaphosa and President Sale for joining me in sponsoring this meeting, and thank you colleagues for attending the meeting. I also extend my sincere regards to the leaders of African countries who have not attended the meeting!
The sudden outbreak of this epidemic has severely impacted countries around the world and claimed the precious lives of hundreds of thousands of people. Here, I propose to express our condolences to the relatives who have died in the epidemic.
——In the face of the epidemic, China and Africa have withstood severe tests. After arduous efforts, the Chinese people paid a huge price to control the domestic epidemic, but they still faced rebound pressure. The governments and people of all countries in Africa are in full swing, and the African Union has made full efforts to coordinate and take effective measures to effectively alleviate the epidemic. The results have not come easily.
- In the face of the epidemic, China and Africa support each other and fight side by side. At the most difficult time for China to fight against the epidemic, Africa has sent precious support, and we bear in mind. After the outbreak of the African epidemic, China took the lead in supporting it and stood firmly with the African people.
- Facing the epidemic situation, China and Africa have become more united, and friendship and mutual trust have been consolidated. I would like to reiterate that 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.
Colleagues!
At present, the 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. 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 support Africa’s anti-epidemic activities, fully implement the measures I announced at the opening ceremony of the World Health Assembly, 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. The Chinese side 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. In order to overcome the impact of the epidemic, we must strengthen the cooperation in building the “Belt and Road”, accelerate the implementation of the outcome of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and focus our cooperation on health, rehabilitation and production, and improvement of people’s livelihood.
Under 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. China is willing to work with the international community to increase its support for African countries with particularly severe epidemics and severe pressures, including further extension of the debt relief period to help them overcome current difficulties. 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.
China hopes that the international community, especially developed countries and multilateral financial institutions, will take stronger action on the debt relief issue in Africa. China is willing to cooperate with the United Nations, the World Health Organization and other partners in aid to Africa against the epidemic on the basis of respecting the will of Africa.
Promoting Africa to achieve sustainable development is the long-term way. China supports the construction of the free trade zone on the African continent, supports Africa in strengthening connectivity and ensuring the supply chain of the industrial chain, and is willing to work with the African side to jointly expand cooperation in new formats such as the digital economy, smart cities, clean energy, and 5G to promote the development and revitalization of Africa.
Third, we must firmly practice multilateralism. 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 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. The world today is undergoing major changes not seen in a century. Faced with new opportunities and challenges, China and Africa need more cooperation than ever before. I would like to maintain close contact with 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.
Colleagues!
At the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, we unanimously decided to build a closer community of 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.
Thank you.
Courtesy
Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, June 17th, by wire (Beijing, June 17, 2020)
