No country should fall behind on the road to modernization, Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed as he called for joint efforts of China and Africa to contribute to the modernization of the Global South at the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing on Thursday.

“As an African proverb goes, ‘a friend is someone you share the path with’. On the path to modernization, no one, and no country, should be left behind. Let us rally the more than 2.8 billion Chinese and African people into a powerful force on our shared path toward modernization, promote modernization of the Global South with China-Africa modernization, and write a new magnificent chapter of development in human history. Let us join hands to bring about a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress for our world!” Xi said as he concluded his keynote speech at the summit’s opening ceremony.

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

The FOCAC summit this time is the largest diplomatic event hosted by China in recent years, drawing the attendance of over 50 African leaders and the UN secretary-general.

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