Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday called for elevating the overall characterization of China-Africa relations to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

Xi made the proposal at the opening ceremony of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing.

“Thanks to nearly 70 years of tireless efforts from both sides, the China-Africa relationship is now at its best in history,” Xi noted in his keynote speech.

“With its future growth in mind, I propose that bilateral relations between China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China be elevated to the level of strategic relations, and that the overall characterization of China-Africa relations be elevated to an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era,” he said.

Themed “Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future”, the three-day FOCAC summit aims to strengthen friendship and outline future cooperation between China and Africa.

Before the ceremony, Xi met leaders from African countries and international organizations and posed for group photos with them at the Great Hall of the People, where the opening ceremony was held.

African Times has published this article in partnership with Xinhua News Agency