After the two sessions, African leaders visited China one after another. The top leader described China-Africa relations like this.
On April 3rd, the Supreme Leader of president held talks with Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa in Beijing. This is the third African leader received by the Chairman of the Supreme Leader less than half a month after the conclusion of the National People’s Congress in China.
Earlier, Cameroonian President Biya and Namibian President Geingob paid state visits to China and held talks with the Chairman of the Supreme Leader.
China and African countries are friends in need and China-Africa friendship is unbreakable. After the two sessions, what did the Chairman of the Supreme Leader talk to these African guests who came from afar? What is the prospect of China-Africa cooperation?
On April 3rd, the Supreme Leader of president held talks with Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa in the Great Hall of the People. Before the talks, the Supreme Leader held a welcoming ceremony for Mnangagwa in the North Hall of the Great Hall of the People. Xinhua News Agency reporter Rao Aimin photo
Syrian friendship — — Good friend, good brother, good partner
During the talks with three African leaders, the Chairman of the Supreme Leader mentioned China’s deep friendship with these countries.
Zimbabwean President Mnangagwa took office last November, and China was his first visit outside Africa. Chairman of the Supreme Leader told him: China and Tianjin have always been "all-weather" friends, and no matter how the international situation changes, they have always been in the same boat through thick and thin.
To Namibian President Geingob, who visited China five times, the Chairman of the Supreme Leader said: When China was not rich, President Mao Zedong and other leaders of the older generation in China indicated that we would support Africa despite difficulties. Today, China has developed, and we should help Africa more both in love and strength.
Cameroonian President Biya is the first African head of state to visit China in 2018, and the first foreign head of state to visit after the two sessions in China. The Chairman of the Supreme Leader told him that since the establishment of diplomatic relations 47 years ago, the two countries have always respected each other and treated each other as equals, and the friendship between China and Cameroon has been deeply rooted in the hearts of the people.
With deep friendship for China-Africa friendship, the Chairman of the Supreme Leader has always been obsessed with the development of African countries. In 2013, the Supreme Leader visited Africa for the first time after taking office in president. In December 2015, the Chairman of the Supreme Leader visited Africa again. At the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, he put forward the "five pillars" and "ten cooperation plans" for China-Africa cooperation, which provided strong support and solid guarantee for the development of China-Africa friendly and cooperative relations.
On December 4, 2015, the Supreme Leader of president attended the opening ceremony of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and delivered a speech. This is South African President Zuma welcoming the supreme leader. Xinhua News Agency reporter Pang Xinglei photo
The gratitude of the three African leaders to China represents the voice of the African people. As President Geingob said, "China historically supported our just cause and continues to help our development today. China is Africa’s sincere partner and friend. "
Talking about ideas — — Truth, truthfulness, intimacy and sincerity
During the talks with African leaders, the Chairman of the Supreme Leader repeatedly emphasized China’s correct concept of justice and interests and his true policy concept of being sincere and right.
The Chairman of the Supreme Leader said: China will continue to uphold the correct concept of justice and interests and the true policy concept of being sincere and sincere towards Africa, closely integrate China’s development with helping Africa’s development, achieve win-win cooperation and common development, and especially enable African countries to enhance their independent and sustainable development capabilities through China-Africa cooperation.
The policy concept of true sincerity towards Africa was put forward by the Chairman of the Supreme Leader when he visited Africa in 2013, just five years ago.
On March 25th, 2013, Chairman of the Supreme Leader delivered a speech entitled "Always Be Reliable Friends and Sincere Partners" at Nyerere International Conference Center in Tanzania. He said: to treat African friends, we speak the word "truth"; To carry out cooperation with Africa, we speak a word "real"; To strengthen China-Africa friendship, we say the word "pro"; To solve the problems in cooperation, we speak the word "sincerity".
On March 25th, 2013, the Supreme Leader of president delivered a speech at Nyerere International Conference Center in Dar es Salaam. Xinhua News Agency reporter Yip Wong photo
China fulfilled his promise with practical actions. On the premise of not attaching any political conditions, not interfering in internal affairs and meeting the needs of African countries, China has helped African countries to vigorously implement infrastructure construction. From railways to highways, airports to ports, China has undertaken projects all over the African continent, which has played an important role in solving the bottleneck of local economic development.
The leaders of three African countries expressed their deep approval for China’s Africa policy, which broke the "noise" that attempted to discredit China-Africa cooperation.
Mnangagwa said that the Zimbabwean government and people will never forget the support that China has always given, and thanked China for its help in improving people’s livelihood in Zimbabwe over the years. Geingob said that China has never colonized or plundered Africa and has always treated small and medium-sized African countries equally. Biya said that China’s long-standing friendship has helped promote Cameroon’s economic and social development and directly benefited the Cameroonian people.
This is the Kariba Dam photographed in Kariba, Zimbabwe on March 28, 2018. The expansion project of the south bank hydropower station in Kariba, Zimbabwe, which was built by China enterprises, was completed on 28th, marking the completion and commissioning of the largest hydropower project in Zimbabwe since its independence. The project has increased Zimbabwe’s power supply by 20% to 30%, greatly alleviating its power shortage. Xinhua News Agency (photo by Sean Jusa)
Cooperation — — the Belt and Road
During his talks with African leaders, the Chairman of the Supreme Leader pointed out the direction of cooperation between the two sides in high-level exchanges, economy and trade, humanities, international affairs and other fields, and put forward specific cooperation suggestions. Among them, "Belt and Road" is a high-frequency word.
Africa is an important node of the ancient Maritime Silk Road, and African countries play an important role in the process of building the "Belt and Road". During the talks, the Chairman of the Supreme Leader sent invitations to Zimbabwe, Namibia and Cameroon, welcoming them to continue to deepen cooperation with China under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and received positive responses from African leaders.
In fact, the African Union put forward Vision 2063 in 2013, and many African countries have also formulated corresponding development strategies. Infrastructure construction and industrialization are the common points and top priorities of these development strategies. This coincides with the "Belt and Road Initiative". This highly compatible development strategy has brought unprecedented opportunities to China-Africa cooperation.
In September this year, the summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will be held in Beijing. The theme will focus on building the "Belt and Road" between China and Africa and building a community of destiny between China and Africa. At that time, Chinese and African leaders will discuss China-Africa cooperation in the new era, and China-Africa comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership will also enter a new stage.
It is noteworthy that the Chairman of the Supreme Leader, President Mnangagwa and President Geingob also unanimously decided to upgrade the positioning of China-Zimbabwe and China-Namibia relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, and promote the improvement of bilateral relations, which has also become the latest footnote of China-Africa friendship.
Reporter Zhu Chao