On 20 June 2025, Chinese Ambassador H.E. Mr. Fan Yong puts an article titled Joining Hands to Build the All-Weather China-Africa Community With a Shared Future for the New Era to local newspaper Mmegi. The full text is as follows：

A few days ago, the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was held in Changsha, Hunan. The two sides reviewed the outcomes achieved since the Beijing Summit, reached a series of new consensuses on the next stage of China-Africa cooperation, and issued the China-Africa Changsha Declaration on Upholding Solidarity and Cooperation of the Global South, the List of Outcomes of the Implementation of the Follow-up Action of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and the Concept Paper of 2026 China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges, demonstrating the joint effort of China and Africa to implement the cooperation outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and providing new driving forces for deepening political mutual trust, advancing mutually beneficial cooperation and building closer bond between the people.

There are several highlights of this meeting.

First, H.E. President Xi Jinping attaches great importance to this meeting, and has sent his message of congratulations. He announced that China will implement the policy of granting 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines, provide more facilitation to Africa’s least developed countries for their export to China, and work with Africa to further implement the 10 partnership actions, providing important guidance for China and Africa jointly advancing modernization and building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.

Second, Foreign Minister Wang Yi put forward five proposals on promoting high-quality China-Africa cooperation at the opening ceremony of the meeting. He noted that China and Africa need to support each other and uphold the solidarity of the Global South; China and Africa need to open up to the world and champion international free trade; China and Africa need to pursue mutual benefit and engage in cooperation on global development; China and Africa need to uphold justice and defend an equitable international order; China and Africa need to carry out exchange and mutual learning and promote diversity of civilizations in the world.

Third, reviewing great leaps forward of China-Africa relations. China and all African countries having diplomatic ties with China have established strategic partnerships, and China has been the largest trading partner for Africa for 16 years in a row. Since the FOCAC Beijing Summit last year, China has made an additional investment of over RMB 13.3 billion, and provided funding of over RMB 150 billion to Africa. In the first five months of this year, China’s imports and exports with Africa reached RMB 963 billion, up by 12.4 percent year-on-year, hitting a record high for the same period of the year in history.

It is worth mentioning that, during this meeting, a new chapter of China-Botswana relations was opened with fresh cooperation outcomes. Hon. Dr. Phenyo Butale, Minister of International Relations, led the Botswana delegation to attend the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and joined Hon. Tiroeaone Ntsima, Minister of Trade and Entrepreneurship, and Hon. Onneetse Ramogapi, Minister of Water and Human Settlement in the fourth China-Africa Economic and Trade Expo (CAETE).

During Dr. Phenyo Butale’s stay in China, he met with Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Foreign Minister.

Wang Yi said that the friendship between China and Botswana has withstood the test of history. The two sides firmly supported each other during the years of anti-imperialism and anti-colonialism and now stand united in cooperation on the path toward modernization. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries, carrying great significance in building on past achievements and opening up a new future. China values the mutual trust and friendship between the two countries and supports Botswana in exploring an independent and self-reliant development path. China is ready to work with Botswana to summarize experience, strengthen planning, promote mutually beneficial cooperation to yield more fruitful results, and open up a new bright prospect for bilateral relations, helping Botswana accelerate its development and rejuvenation. China is also willing to further expand market access for Botswana and explore cooperation in areas such as economy and trade, energy, manufacturing and processing, and health care.

Dr. Phenyo Butale said that China is an important strategic partner of Botswana, and the high-level cooperation between the two countries is of great significance. Botswana firmly adheres to the one-China principle and will take the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations as an opportunity to fully leverage the role of the China-Botswana Joint Economic and Trade Commission, deepen Belt and Road cooperation, implement the ten partnership actions, strengthen people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and elevate Botswana-China relations to a new level. Fairness, justice, and multilateralism are especially important for small and medium-sized countries. Botswana and China share similar views on major international and regional issues. Botswana highly appreciates China's global contributions and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China, enhance Africa-China cooperation, and jointly respond to complex geopolitical challenges.

Besides, Dr. Phenyo Butale visited Beijing and attended the reception to celebrate the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and Botswana, building on past successes to further advance the bilateral relations. The two sides also signed a protocol on the export of Botswana beef to China. In addition, Dr. Phenyo Butale met with senior government officials, and representatives of Chinese enterprises in order to attract high-quality Chinese investors for opportunities in Botswana.

Looking ahead, China always views enhancing solidarity and cooperation with African countries including Botswana as an important cornerstone of our foreign policy. We stand ready to work with Africa to take effort to design the development of the future, use the “golden key” of China-Africa solidarity and cooperation to unlock the door to a future of common development. China is willing to work with Botswana to deliver on the important agreements between the two Heads of States, constantly enrich the strategic partnership, and promote the building the all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.