Remarks at Africa Day Reception
by State Councilor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang
Beijing, May 25, 2023

Your Excellency Mr. Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ethiopia, 
Your Excellency Mr. Christophe Lutundula, Vice Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Democratic Republic of Congo,
Your Excellency Mr. Martin Mpana, Dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in China and Ambassador of Cameroon to China, 
Your Excellency Mr. Rahamtalla M. Osman, Permanent Representative of the African Union to China,
Your Excellency Ambassador Charif Maoulana of the Union of Comoros, chair of the African Union,
Excellencies, 
Distinguished guests, 
Dear friends, 

Good evening!

I am very happy to attend today’s reception, and join our African friends to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the founding of the Organisation of African Unity (OAU). On behalf of the Chinese government, I wish to extend warm greetings to you all, and thank you for your long, active contributions to China-Africa friendship and cooperation.

On this day 60 years ago, the OAU was founded. This is an epoch-making event in the history of Africa, and the start of a new chapter of African countries seeking strength and development through unity. At the turn of the century, the African Union (AU) took over the baton, and led African countries forward with bigger strides toward development and revitalization. With continued rise in its international status, Africa has become an important force with global influence.

The past 60 years have also been a time when China and Africa offered each other support, sharing weal and woe. From struggles for national liberation to explorations for paths to modernization, from combating Ebola to fighting COVID-19, no matter how the international situation evolves, China has always been there for Africa. In particular, over the last decade, guided by the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, and of pursuing the greater good and shared interests in developing China’s relations with Africa put forth by President Xi Jinping, China-Africa relations have been growing with the “acceleration button” on, and entered a fast track toward a new era of a stronger China-Africa community with a shared future.

Sixty years on, China and Africa enjoy closer friendly exchanges, and our leaders visit each other as often as relatives do. In the past decade, President Xi Jinping visited Africa four times, and two summits of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation were held. In the last six months alone, four African presidents paid state visits to China, and since the beginning of this year, more than ten African officials above the ministerial level have visited China. The Africa-China Poverty Reduction and Development Conference and the China-Africa Youth Festival were held. The spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation is as alive as ever across the vast lands of China and Africa.

Sixty years on, China and Africa enjoy ever-deepening win-win cooperation, delivering more benefits to our people. China has remained Africa’s largest trading partner for 14 consecutive years. We have together constructed and commissioned over 10,000 km of railway, nearly 100,000 km of highway, and an array of important infrastructure including airports, docks, bridges and power plants. Early this year, I attended the completion ceremony of the China-aided project of Africa CDC with AUC Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat, witnessing a new landmark of our high-quality, practical cooperation to the benefit of the people. These concrete deliverables have greatly promoted economic and social development and improved people’s livelihood in Africa. 

Sixty years on, China and Africa enjoy stronger coordination on international affairs, serving as an important force for international fairness and justice. Together, we champion multilateralism and uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter. China is a longstanding supporter of the leading role of the AU and Africa’s subregional organizations in resolving regional conflicts, and supports the African people in solving African issues in the African way. China has always supported Africa in playing a bigger role on the world stage, spoken up for Africa at the United Nations and on other multilateral occasions, and is the first country to explicitly support the AU in joining the G20.

Dear friends,

Both China and Africa are standing at a new historical starting point and embracing important new opportunities. The 20th CPC National Congress held last year drew up the blueprint for China’s future development, and laid out the task of building China into a great modern socialist country in all respects by the middle of this century and advancing the rejuvenation of the Chinese nation on all fronts through a Chinese path to modernization. Chinese modernization has debunked the myth that modernization equals westernization, expanded options for developing countries i