African leaders are poised to attend the upcoming 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing, the People’s Republic of China.
The event, scheduled from September 4 to 6 this year, aims to foster dialogue and strengthen ties between China and African nations.
Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa was among the first heads of state to arrive in China in preparation for the summit.
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Recently, Chinese Ambassador to Sierra Leone, Wang Qing, shared insights on the forthcoming summit during a media briefing at the Face to Face with China program.
He highlighted the foundational role of FOCAC as a platform for collective dialogue, uniting China with the African Union Commission as well as 53 African countries that maintain diplomatic relations with China.
Wang emphasized the rapid development track of China-Africa relations facilitated by FOCAC.
He underscored President Xi Jinping’s advocacy for sincerity, practical results, friendship, and good faith in shaping a shared future between China and Africa. This strategic vision aligns with building a robust China-Africa community and navigating global challenges through collaborative efforts rooted in multilateralism.
The ambassador highlighted the substantial progress in China-Africa trade cooperation, with China emerging as Africa’s largest trading partner since 2009. The bilateral trade volume surged to 282 billion U.S. dollars in 2023, accounting for over 21.5 percent of Africa’s total external trade.
China’s commitment to enhancing trade diversity by promoting non-resource product imports from Africa and providing favourable tariff treatments signifies a paradigm shift towards balanced trade relations.
(With input from People Daily, China)
