H.E. Miao Deyu, Vice Minister of Foreign Affairs of the People’s Republic of China

H.E. Martin Mpana, Ambassador of the Republic of Cameroun and Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps

H.E. Mamina Cyprien Sylvestre, Ambassador of the Republic of Congo to China and Co-Chair of FOCAC

H.E. Khaled Nazmy, Ambassador of the Arab Republic of Egypt to China

H.E. Ahmed Mustafa Fahmy, Representative of the League of Arab States to China

Excellencies Distinguished African and Arab Ambassadors here present

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Good afternoon.

It is a great honour to join you in commemorating seventy years of diplomatic relations between China and African and Arab States. As we mark this historic milestone, let me from the outset on behalf of H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission commend H.E. President Xi Jinping for providing strong and clear leadership that continues to deepen China-Africa relations. As we meet here this afternoon, China under the able leadership of President Xi is not only accelerating its development trajectory, it is providing pivotal leadership that would shape the future of the new global order. We commend President Xi for advancing the Ten Partnership Actions for Modernization in Africa under FOCAC and the zero-tariff policy which came into force on 1 May this year.

We also commend for advancing multilateralism and cooperation through his Four Global Initiatives on Development, Security, Civilization and Governance. The African Union welcomes these four Initiatives as they align with Africa’s transformative agenda, and reinforce multilateralism by expanding the voice of the Global South in international decision-making.

Excellencies,

This 70^th anniversary of Sino-African ties is more than a commemoration of diplomatic milestones. It is a celebration of a relationship forged through history, tested through adversity and continuously renewed through solidarity, mutual respect and the pursuit of shared progress.

The evolution of China-Africa relations demonstrates what is possible when partnerships are built on sovereign equality, non-interference, mutual benefit and respect for the development choices of nations. At decisive moments in history, China stood with Africa and its peoples in their struggle for political independence and national liberation. Africa, in turn, helped restore the lawful rights of the People’s Republic of China at the United Nations in 1971, including its permanent seat on the UN Security Council.

Our partnership has since evolved from solidarity in liberation to cooperation in development, and today to strategic coordination in shaping the future of global governance. I am pleased to note that Sino-Africa ties have been elevated to a win-win, strategic, all-weather partnership. This must be acknowledged and celebrated.

Excellencies

A major institutional expression of this evolution was the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. FOCAC transformed longstanding friendship into an organised, results-oriented framework for collective dialogue and practical cooperation.

Through FOCAC, commitments are increasingly been translated into tangible outcomes across infrastructure, transport connectivity, energy, agriculture, public health, science and technology, education, skills development and human-capital formation. These areas are not peripheral to Africa’s development. They are central to the implementation of Agenda 2063 and to Africa’s aspiration to become an integrated, prosperous and peaceful continent driven by its own citizens.

The strategic task before us is therefore not simply to preserve what has been achieved, but to deepen implementation, strengthen African ownership and ensure that cooperation produces sustainable transformation. In this regard, Africa welcomes the continued alignment of FOCAC commitments with the Second Ten-Year Implementation Plan of Agenda 2063 and China’s 15^th Five Year Plan. This was reaffirmed during the Ninth African Union-China Strategic Dialogue co-chaired by H.E. Mahmoud Ali Youssouf, Chairperson of the AU Commission and H.E. Wang Yi, Minister of Foreign Affairs of China at the AU Headquarters on 8 January this year.

Excellencies,

The world is undergoing profound geopolitical, economic, technological and environmental change. No region or single country can navigate these transformations alone. Africa and China must therefore use their partnership not only to respond to change, but to help shape it. This requires stronger coordination in multilateral institutions; greater support for the legitimate aspirations of the Global South; reform of global governance structures; and unwavering commitment to an international order anchored on the Charter of the United Nations, international law, sovereignty and the peaceful settlement of disputes.

As we mark seventy years of diplomatic relations, let us honour the past by building a partnership equal to the demands of the future. A partnership that moves from projects to transformation, from commitments to implementation and from shared principles to shared prosperity.

The African Union remains committed to working with China, African Member States, the Arab world and all partners to build a peaceful, just and prosperous future, and a genuine community with a shared future for humanity.

I would like to conclude by calling for an enhanced trilateral partnership between Africa, China and the Arab world. If fully leveraged, this trilateral partnership would shape humanity’s future in the 21st century.

Long live China-Africa partnership!

Long Live China-Arab partnership!

Xie Xie.

 

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