Keynote Speech by H.E. Wang Yi
At the Opening Ceremony
Of the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation
Of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation

June 11, 2025

Good morning. I’m very pleased to join you, my friends both old and new, in Changsha, Hunan Province for the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to this meeting, and has sent his message of congratulations. In the message, President Xi expounded on the significance of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation, and announced the important measures that China will take to further open itself to and expand cooperation with Africa. The message provides important guidance for China and Africa to jointly advance modernization and build the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

This year marks the 25th anniversary of the founding of FOCAC. Over the past 25 years, the Forum has rapidly grown in strength. Under its guidance, the China-Africa relationship has grown by leaps and bounds, and entered its best time in history. The FOCAC Beijing Summit held in September last year put China and Africa on a new journey of jointly building an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era. Over a short span of nine months since the end of the summit, our two sides have acted on the consensus reached at the summit, and made new and encouraging progress in implementing the ten partnership actions.

We have further consolidated our strategic mutual trust. Chinese and African leaders have visited each other frequently like relatives, and deepened experience sharing on national governance. Our people-to-people bond has kept strengthening, and our consensus on uniting for development has become ever stronger.

We have further deepened our practical cooperation. Over the past nine months, China has invested another RMB13.3 billion yuan in Africa, bringing the total amount of China’s financial support to over RMB150 billion yuan. China’s policy of providing LDCs with zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines has officially come into effect. In 2024, China-Africa trade reached a new high of nearly US$300 billion.

We have further intensified our coordination on multilateral affairs. Through close coordination at the United Nations, the G20, BRICS and other multilateral fora, China and Africa have given staunch support to each other on our respective core interests, firmly upheld the basic norms of international relations, and strongly defended the common interests of the developing countries.

Facts show that China-Africa cooperation enjoys a solid foundation, extensive needs and immense potential, and is brimming with dynamism and vitality. Standing shoulder to shoulder, China and Africa will bring greater hope for the development and rejuvenation of the Global South and stronger safeguard for international equity and justice.

Friends,

As the largest developing country, and the continent that is home to the largest number of developing countries, China and Africa are the mainstay of the Global South. Given the increasing changes and turbulence in the international landscape, China and Africa must do more in seeking strength through unity, standing firmly on the right side of history, leading the progress of the times proactively, and addressing the uncertainty of the world with the stability and resilience of China-Africa relations. To this end, the Chinese side proposes the following five points:

First, we need to commit ourselves to mutual assistance and be the protectors of the solidarity of the Global South. We need to keep the momentum of high-level exchange, support each other firmly on issues concerning each other’s core interests, further consolidate political mutual trust, and add more substance to the China-Africa community with a shared future. As African countries’ most trustworthy friend and most reliable partner, China will, as always, speak up for African countries, give full support for Africa’s integration process, and stand firmly behind African countries’ exploration of their paths toward modernization. 

Second, we need to commit ourselves to openness and be the advocates of international free trade. Economic globalization is the only way forward for human society. We need to champion a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization, oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism together, and safeguard the WTO-centered multilateral trading system. China will continue to open wider to Africa by expanding its zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines to all 53 African countries that have diplomatic relations with China, so that China and the Chinese market can provide more opportunities for Africa’s development.

Third, we need to commit ourselves to mutual benefit and be the partners in global development cooperation. President Xi Jinping underscored that on the path to modernization, no one, and no country, should be left behind. We call on the international community to give prioritized attention to the challenges Africa faces in its development, and effectively increase rather than unilaterally slash development assistance to Africa. China will speed up the implementation of the ten partnership actions, promote high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and advance the Initiative on Supporting Africa’s Industrialization, the Plan for Supporting Africa’s Agricultural Modernization, and the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development, so as to promote the high-quality development of China-Africa cooperation.

Fourth, we need to commit ourselves to equity and justice, and be the defenders of a just international order. We should continue strengthening coordination and collaboration on international affairs, jointly oppose power politics and bullying practices, and work for a more just and equitable international order. China will continue to firmly support Africa in playing a greater role on the international stage, redressing the historical injustice and enhancing its representation and voice in the multilateral governing system. This year, the G20 summit will be held on the African continent for the first time. China supports South Africa in fulfilling its role of the G20 Presidency and leaving a distinctively African mark in global governance.

Fifth, we need to commit ourselves to exchange and mutual learning, and be the champions for the diversity of civilizations worldwide. The year 2026 is the China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges for which we will jointly issue a concept paper today. We need to fully leverage diverse channels, including business, academic and non-governmental sectors, to deepen China-Africa cultural exchanges and integration, and increase mutual understanding and affinity between our peoples. China will deliver on the series of measures announced by President Xi Jinping, and keep expanding exchanges and cooperation with Africa in education, youth, women, broadcasting and others fields, to further consolidate public support for our everlasting friendship.

Friends,

The 21st century is the century of Asia as much as it is of Africa. Currently, the Chinese people are working hard to build a great modern socialist country in all respects and advance national rejuvenation through a Chinese path to modernization. Africa today is experiencing a new awakening; the continent is taking solid strides toward the modernization goals set forth in the AU’s Agenda 2063. I am confident that, when the 2.8 billion-plus people in China and Africa unite in purpose and march forward hand in hand, we can surely create splendor on our paths toward modernization, lead the way for thriving modernization across the Global South, and make greater contributions to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.

To conclude, I wish the meeting a resounding success.

Thank you.