On 6 December, 2021, the Nation and the Independent, two mainstream newspapers in Seychelles, published an article entitled Deepen China-Africa Partnership and Promote Sustainable Development to Build a China-Africa Community with a Shared Future in the New Era ----- Chinese Ambassador to Seychelles H.E. Mme GUO Wei talks about fruitful outcomes of the eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). The full text is as follows:

From November 29 to 30, 2021, the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) was held in Dakar. Chinese President Xi Jinping attended the opening ceremony of the conference via video link and delivered a keynote speech. The conference was co-chaired by Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao, Senegalese Foreign Minister Aissata Tall Sall, and Senegalese Minister of Economy, Planning and International Cooperation Amadou Hott. The conference assessed the implementation of the achievements of the previous session, discussed and finalized the plan for following-up cooperation, and adopted four achievement papers, namely the Dakar Declaration, the Dakar Plan of Action (2022-2024), the Declaration on China-Africa Cooperation on Climate Change, and the 2035 Vision for China-Africa Cooperation, the most among all sessions. The success of the conference confirmed the strong will of China and Africa to work together to overcome difficulties and seek common development, and showed the huge potential and bright prospects of China-Africa cooperation. I’d like to introduce outcomes of the conference as follows:

I Spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation as well as 4 proposals on building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era

This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of China-Africa diplomatic relations. President Xi Jinping summarized the history of China-Africa relations and proposed the spirit for the first time, which became a highlight of the conference. The spirit features sincere friendship and equality, win-win for mutual benefit and common development, fairness and justice, and progress with the times and openness and inclusiveness. It is the key to China-Africa friendship, and truly captures the relations of China and Africa working together in good and hard times over the past decades, and provides a source of strength for the continuous growth of China-Africa friendly relations.

To promote the building of a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, President Xi made the following four proposals:

First, fighting COVID-19 with solidarity. We need to put people and their lives first, be guided by science, support waiving intellectual property rights on COVID-19 vaccines, and truly ensure the accessibility and affordability of vaccines in Africa to bridge the immunization gap.

Second, deepening practical cooperation. 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 (SMEs).

Third, promoting green development. In the face of climate change, which is a major challenge to all humanity, we need to advocate green and low-carbon development, actively promote solar, wind and other sources of renewable energy, work for effective implementation of the Paris Agreement on climate change and keep strengthening our capacity for sustainable development.

Fourth, upholding equity and justice. Both China and Africa advocate a development path suited to our national conditions and are both committed to upholding the rights and interests of developing countries. We both oppose intervention in domestic affairs, racial discrimination and unilateral sanctions. We need to unequivocally stand for the just propositions of developing countries and translate our common aspirations and interests into joint actions.

II 9 programs to be implemented by China and Africa

In the run-up to this Conference, China and Africa have jointly prepared the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035. Under the first three-year plan of the Vision, China will work closely with African countries to implement nine programs. Highlights are as follows:

First, the medical and health program. To help the AU achieve its goal of vaccinating 60 percent of the African population by 2022, China will provide another one billion doses of vaccines to Africa, including 600 million doses as donation and 400 million doses to be provided through such means as joint production by Chinese companies and relevant African countries. In addition, China will undertake 10 medical and health projects for African countries, and send 1,500 medical personnel and public health experts to Africa.

Second, the poverty reduction and agricultural development program. China will undertake 10 poverty reduction and agricultural projects for Africa, and send 500 agricultural experts to Africa.

Third, the trade promotion program. China will open “green lanes” for African agricultural exports to China, strive to reach 300 billion US dollars in total imports from Africa in the next three years. China will provide 10 billion US dollars of trade finance to support African export. China will undertake 10 connectivity projects for Africa, and give continued support to the development of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA).

Fourth, the investment promotion program. China will encourage its businesses to invest no less than 10 billion US dollars in Africa in the next three years. China will undertake 10 industrialization and employment promotion projects for Africa, provide credit facilities of 10 billion US dollars to African financial institutions, support the development of African SMEs on a priority basis. China will exempt African LDCs from debt incurred in the form of interest-free Chinese government loans due by the end of 2021. China is ready to channel to African countries 10 billion US dollars from its share of the IMF’s new allocation of Special Drawing Rights.

Fifth, the digital innovation program. China will undertake 10 digital economy projects for Africa, set up centers for China-Africa cooperation on satellite remote-sensing application.