Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, capital of China, Sept. 3, 2024. (Xinhua/Huang Jingwen)

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Tuesday met with Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat, who is in Beijing for the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

Noting that the AU has been a flag guiding Africa's unity and self-strengthening and an important platform for international cooperation, Xi said China supports the AU in playing a bigger role in the development of China-Africa friendship.

Xi said he was pleased to see that the China-aided headquarters for the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention had been completed and put into use, making a contribution to the health and well-being of African people.

China stands ready to pursue greater achievements in various fields in its cooperation with the AU and promote the development of the China-Africa community with a shared future, he said.

China considers Africa a major priority in its diplomacy, and is willing to increase political exchanges, deepen strategic mutual trust, strengthen pragmatic cooperation, share development experience, and promote common development with Africa, Xi said.

He said China and Africa should work closely to advocate an equal and orderly multipolar world, as well as universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

Faki spoke highly of the outstanding leadership of China and President Xi in promoting the partnership between Africa and China and the institutional development of the FOCAC. He thanked China for its valuable assistance to Africa in fields such as infrastructure, health, energy, industry and security.

He highlighted major initiatives proposed by Xi, including the Belt and Road Initiative, the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative, and the Global Civilization Initiative. He said these initiatives dedicated to sharing peace and development opportunities among people around the globe are critical to promoting unity and cooperation among Global South countries and the justice of the global governance system.

Africa hopes that China will continue to play its leading role in and contribute more to helping realize modernization on the continent, as well as peace and development in the world, Faki added.