Xi sets out new China-Africa road map

He proposes cooperation on health, trade, environment

President Xi Jinping outlined on Monday a new road map to build a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, as he unveiled nine projects－including an aid package of another 1 billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines－to further cooperation.

Xi made the announcement in a keynote speech delivered via video link from Beijing to the opening ceremony of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Dakar, the capital of Senegal.

To help Africa achieve its target of vaccinating 60 percent of its population by 2022, the president said, China will donate 600 million vaccine doses and offer another 400 million doses via joint production by Chinese and local firms.

China will also help African countries implement 10 health programs and send 1,500 medical workers and public health experts to the continent, he added.

This year marks the 65th anniversary of diplomatic relations between China and African countries. Xi said the two sides have forged an unbreakable fraternity in their joint struggle against imperialism and colonialism, and have embarked on a journey of cooperation toward development and revitalization.

"Together, we have written a splendid chapter of mutual assistance amid complex changes and set a shining example for building a new type of international relations," he said.

He attributed the close relationship to "an everlasting spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation forged between the two sides, which features sincere friendship, equality, mutual benefit and common development, fairness and justice", adding that the relationship had progressed with "openness and inclusiveness".

Calling it the historic starting point of building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, Xi made a four-point proposal: fighting COVID-19 with solidarity; deepening practical cooperation; promoting green development; and upholding equity and justice.

"We need to open up new prospects for China-Africa cooperation, expand trade and investment, share experience on poverty reduction, strengthen cooperation on digital economy, and promote entrepreneurship by young Africans and the development of small and medium-sized enterprises," he added.

He underlined the necessity for both sides to promote green development, saying there was a need to advocate green and low-carbon development and actively promote solar, wind and other sources of renewable energy.

In upholding equality and peace, he said China and Africa need to unequivocally stand for the just propositions of developing countries and translate their common aspirations and interests into joint actions.