Wu Jianghao:
Friends from the media, ladies and gentlemen, good morning. Thank you, Ms. Shou. I am very glad to introduce to you the newly released white paper "China and Africa in the New Era: A Partnership of Equals." This is the first white paper issued by the Chinese government on China-Africa cooperation, and the first of its kind released since the 18th CPC National Congress on China's cooperation with a specific region. I would like to take this opportunity to sincerely thank you, friends from the media, for your long-term care and support for China's diplomacy and in particular China-Africa relations. China is the world's largest developing country, and Africa is the continent with the largest number of developing countries. Shared past experiences and similar development course and targets have brought China and Africa closer together. China and Africa's traditional friendship has gained strong public support, and occupies a special historical position in China's overall diplomatic landscape.
Developing solidarity and cooperation with African countries has been a cornerstone of China's foreign policy, as well as a firm and longstanding strategy. China has firmly supported African countries in realizing their national independence and liberation, following development paths that fit their national conditions, and has made its due contribution to Africa's economic and social development, improvement of people's wellbeing, and its regional integration. African countries have provided firm support in the international arena for China's endeavors to safeguard its sovereignty, security and development interests. The two sides have enjoyed win-win cooperation and common development through pragmatic cooperation. China and Africa have always been a community of shared future.
Since the 18th CPC National Congress, President Xi Jinping has attached great importance to China-Africa relations, and personally drawn up a blueprint for China-Africa cooperation. At the Johannesburg Summit in 2015 and the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in 2018, President Xi Jinping and African leaders unanimously agreed to upgrade China-Africa relations to a comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership, and build a China-Africa community of shared future characterized by joint responsibility, win-win cooperation, happiness for all, cultural prosperity, common security, and harmony between humanity and nature. This has led China-Africa relations into a new era, pushed China-Africa cooperation to new and unprecedented heights, and set an example for building a global community of shared future. China and Africa have supported each other in confronting the grave challenges posed by COVID-19. The two sides jointly hosted the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19, writing a new chapter in China-Africa solidarity and friendship in times of crisis.
The white paper offers a comprehensive and systematic summary of new guiding ideas, practices and outcomes of Xi Jinping Thought on Diplomacy regarding China-Africa relations, and elaborates on the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, the principles of pursuing the greater good and shared interests, and the six-sphere integrated plan of building a China-Africa community of shared future proposed by President Xi Jinping. With a large amount of data and facts, the white paper showcases an omni-dimensional and wide-ranging framework of China-Africa cooperation, and the journey of the Chinese and African people working together and providing mutual assistance in the new era.
In two days, the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC will open in Dakar, the capital of Senegal. President Xi Jinping will attend the opening ceremony via video link and deliver a keynote speech. In this context, we have released the white paper in order to explain China's policy toward Africa, showcase practices and outcomes of China-Africa cooperation in the new era, greet the Dakar conference, help the international community deepen its understanding of China-Africa cooperation, and offer China's experience and wisdom for international cooperation with Africa and global development cooperation.
The sixth plenary session of the 19th CPC Central Committee was successfully convened. China is implementing the 14th Five-Year Plan (2021-2025) for National Economic and Social Development and the Long-Range Objectives Through the Year 2035, and marching toward the second centenary goal of building a modern socialist country. Africa is currently trying to overcome the impact of the pandemic and advance its economic recovery and regional integration. The two sides will enjoy broader cooperation space. In the face of new opportunities and challenges, China will work with African countries to steadfastly reinforce their traditional friendship, promote mutually beneficial cooperation, and safeguard common interests. The two sides will step up efforts to build an even stronger China-Africa community of shared future, and make a greater contribution to a global community of shared future.
Thank you. Next, my colleague and I are willing to answer your questions.
