China, Africa map out strategic vision for win-win cooperation with practical action plan

Good friends, good partners, good brothers

Themed "Africa-China Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development," the summit adopted a declaration and a 2016-2018 action plan at a plenary session before South African President Jacob Zuma, who co-chaired the summit with Xi, declared the closing of the two-day gathering.

While charting the course for China-Africa win-win cooperation, the leaders' meeting, which Xi described as "a historic conference" and "a complete success," has also been widely lauded as yet another embodiment of the Asian nation's brotherly friendship with its African partners and commitment to common development.

"In conducting China's relations with Africa, we adhere to the principles of sincerity, practical results, affinity and good faith and uphold the values of friendship, justice and shared interests," Xi reaffirmed Friday in his keynote speech, which was punctuated by rounds of applause.

The principles are also enshrined in China's second Africa policy paper, which was released during the summit. It states that China and Africa "have always belonged to a community of shared future" and "have always been good friends who stand together through thick and thin, good partners who share weal and woe, and good brothers who fully trust each other despite changes in the international landscape."

In a telling sign of Beijing's commitment to the principles, the Chinese president met with more than 40 African leaders either separately or in groups on the sidelines of the summit, comparing notes with them on the relations between China and their respective countries and other issues of common concern.

Meanwhile, in order to ensure smooth implementation of the 10 major cooperation plans, Xi announced that his country will proffer 60 billion U.S. dollars of funding support, which comprises 5 billion dollars of grant and interest-free loans, 35 billion dollars of preferential loans and export credit, 5 billion dollars of additional capital for the China-Africa Development Fund and the Special Loan for the Development of African SMEs each, and a China-Africa production capacity cooperation fund with the initial capital of 10 billion dollars.

Besides, Xi stressed at a business forum that his country "is ready to share, without any reservation, advanced applicable technology with Africa" and help strengthen "Africa's internal drive for economic development," and that China-Africa economic cooperation is open, including to companies from other countries on the basis of mutual benefit.

In a tender testimony to China's all-round engagement with Africa, Chinese First Lady Peng Liyuan, who is the World Health Organization Goodwill Ambassador for Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, attended an anti-AIDS advocacy activity on Saturday and reiterated China's pledge to support Africa's medical and health programs.

The series of statements and measures are "very encouraging" and indicate that China is very genuine and very serious about its relations with Africa, said Bimha, the Zimbabwean minister, adding that they also show that "China wants to be a true friend of Africa."

In the eyes of Tlohang Sekhamane, foreign minister of Lesotho, "it is clear that China wants to be a partner looking for cooperation with Africa and it seeks opportunities of real win-win cooperation instead of looking for a situation of dominance."