Xi proposes to upgrade China-Africa ties on 5 pillars

Chinese President Xi Jinping (L) shakes hands with South African President Jacob Zuma during the opening ceremony of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dec. 4, 2015.[Photo/Xinhua]

In addition, Xi called upon the two sides to cement unity and coordination on international affairs and jointly defend their common interests, saying that China will continue to support Africa in playing a bigger role on the world stage.

Xi said China and Africa have always been a community of common destiny with the same historical experiences and the same course of struggle having made the two peoples forge profound friendship.

China, Xi said, after 30 years of reform and opening-up, is now in a position to help Africa realize sustainable self-development with technology, equipment, skillful professionals and capital.

"In particular, China has the strong political commitment to supporting Africa in achieving development and prosperity," Xi said, adding that China and Africa share mutual needs and complementarities and are facing rare historical opportunity in pursuing development through cooperation.

The FOCAC, which groups China, 50 African countries that have established diplomatic ties with China, and the Commission of the African Union, started as a ministerial-level dialogue 15 years ago. Since then, China notably ramped up its engagement with Africa.

China has been Africa's largest trade partner for six straight years and Africa is assuming growing importance as an investment and engineering contract destination for Chinese enterprises.