Xi's whistle-stop tour cements place on world stage

Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech at the opening ceremony of the United Nations (UN) climate change conference in Paris, France, Nov 30, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

The president spent less than 36 hours in Paris, where he met with five presidents including his US counterpart Barack Obama and Russian President Vladimir Putin.

The greater part of his seven-day trip was spent in Africa, the continent that is home to the largest number of developing countries.

Xi has visited Africa seven times and last week's was his second as Chinese president.

He joined African leaders in Johannesburg for the second summit of the 15-year-old Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which groups China, 50 African countries that have established diplomatic ties with China, and the Commission of the African Union.

In addition to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, who holds the rotating African Union chair, and South African President Jacob Zuma, who co-chaired the summit together with Xi on Friday and Sunday, Xi met on the sidelines separately with 14 African leaders, and 30 others collectively in two groups.

"President Xi and his African counterparts have reached important consensus in enhancing solidarity and coordination, and pushing for the democratization of international relations," Wang said.

"It will have profound implications in promoting a fairer and more reasonable world order."

Throughout the meetings, Xi had vowed to further develop relations with Africa featuring "win-win cooperation and common development". This has sent a strong signal to the world, demonstrating China's aspiration for the realization of "balanced, inclusive and sustainable development" in all countries, Wang said.

The climax of Xi's meetings came on Friday when he announced at the Johannesburg summit China's visionary action plans and policy principles to set the tone for future China-Africa cooperation.

Xi said China would pump $60 billion into development projects in Africa to help the continent address its top three difficulties: infrastructure, talent and funding.

Through his visits to both France and Africa, Xi has signaled that China remains the largest developing country, development of which will bring tremendous opportunities to the international community, including businesses, Wang said.

"China will continue to stand alongside developing countries, and staunchly support them, especially nations in Africa, to increase their presence and say in the global governance system," Wang said.

zhaohuanxin@chinadaily.com.cn