China-Africa friendship remains rock-solid and stable, no matter what the international situation they face and what difficulties, obstacles, or disruptions they encounter, said Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi.
From January 4 to 9, Wang visited Nigeria, the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Botswana, Tanzania and Seychelles in continuation of Chinese foreign ministers' 31-year tradition of choosing Africa for their first overseas visit every year.
The fact that Chinese foreign ministers chose Africa for their first overseas visit every year since 1991 shows that China attaches great importance to Africa, Wang said, adding that such a concrete action embodies their traditional friendship and China's firm support for Africa's development and revitalization.
During his trip to Africa, Wang held meetings respectively with leaders and foreign ministers from the five African countries, during which the two sides have agreed to further upheld the spirit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and carried out in-depth exchange over the follow-ups to the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19.
The two sides, Wang said, should join hands to safeguard their legitimate right to development and national rejuvenation, cherish their commitment to fairness and justice, advocate true multilateralism and oppose any external interference.
In fighting the COVID-19 pandemic ravaging the world, Wang noted that China will continue to deliver urgently needed anti-virus supplies to African friends, send medical teams to countries in need, establish a cooperation mechanism of counterpart hospitals, promote the sharing of anti-virus experience, accelerate the construction of Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) headquarters building, and work with G20 members on the debt suspension in Africa.
China will fulfill its firm commitment that its vaccines will be provided as global public good, and stands ready to cooperate with African countries on COVID-19 vaccines and make them more accessible and affordable in Africa, Wang said.
Some leaders of African countries spoke highly of China's success in first bringing the epidemic under control, applauded the outcomes in the joint China-Africa fight against COVID-19, and expressed confidence in the final victory.
Experts said Wang's opportune visit has yielded fruitful results, and will cement ties between China and its African partners.
In boosting Africa's industrialization and home-grown production capacity, Wang said China was willing to make joint efforts with Africa to strengthen strategic alignment and build consensus on cooperation in line with the expectations of African countries, and push forward the joint building of the Belt and Road between China and Africa.
Cooperation in infrastructure connectivity is one major outcome reached during Wang's visit. The DRC and Botswana both signed memoranda of understanding with China on jointly advancing the Belt and Road construction. So far, 46 African countries have signed such cooperation deals with China, signaling African countries' need to improve infrastructure with China's engagement.
Wang stressed that China would strive to rise above the fallout of COVID-19 and external disruptions, work together with Africa to focus on infrastructure building, support the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), improve layout of investment in production capacity and enhance cooperation in scientific innovation to help Africa realize connectivity, industrialization and leapfrog development and foster a China-Africa market.
Meanwhile, the international community has a shared responsibility to support Africa's development, Wang said, adding that the African continent should become a stage for international cooperation, not an arena for major power rivalry, and China stands ready to actively promote tripartite or multi-party cooperation with Africa, so as to jointly play a constructive role in promoting peace and development in Africa.