By Chao Xiaoliang, Consul General of China in Lagos
On 8 March, the First Session of the Thirteenth National Congress of China held a press conference. During the conference, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi elaborated China’s foreign policy and answered questions from Chinese and foreign journalists. The main points are as follows:
The year 2017 is a year of great significance to both China and the whole world. The world is at a crucial stage of evolving international landscape and shifting balance of power, facing growing destabilizing and uncertain factors and new issues and challenges on multiple fronts. For China, the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China successfully conveyed, created the Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, set out direction and objectives of China’s diplomacy in the new era.
In the past five years, China implemented the new thinking ,new idea and new measures of diplomacy put forward by President Xi Jinping. By taking active, innovative and pioneering steps, quite a few breakthroughs and important headway in the diplomatic field have been made.
Being the chief architect of China’s distinctive major-country diplomacy and chief diplomat of China, President Xi Jinping emphasized that China will work with other countries to foster a new form of international relations and building a community with a shared future for mankind which is the aim of China’s major-country diplomacy in the new era. President Xi has visited 57 countries and received more than 110 heads of state in the past 5 years. These important visits and meetings deepened the world’s understanding of China, enhanced China’s profile and influence and facilitated many global issues.
China has come to the fore in championing global governance, free trade and open global economy. At present, China contributes more than 30% of global economy growth, accounts for 70% of global poverty alleviation, being the largest source of peacekeeping personnel and the second largest contributor to the UN peacekeeping budget. The Belt and Road Initiative(BRI) has been translated from an concept into real action and progress on the ground. BRI follows the “Golden Rule” of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits. More than 80 countries and international organizations have signed BRI agreements with China. A large number of BRI projects are underway and adding needed momentum to the economic and social development of China’s partners.
For China Africa relations, President Xi Jinping once stated: “China and Africa are friends tested by adversity. Such friends must never be forgot.” The profound friendship between China and Africa will remain unbreakable no matter how the world may change or others may say. As Africa’s brother and partner, China will always attach particular importance to the needs and interests of African countries. Africa is an indispensable partner in China’s endeavor to build a global community with a shared future. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation summit scheduled for September in Beijing will bring together Chinese and African Leaders once again. They will discuss China-Africa cooperation in the new era and focus on jointly advancing the Belt and Road Initiative and turning China and Africa into a community with a shared future. China and Africa countries will align the Belt and Road Initiative with the UN’s 2030 Agenda, the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and the development strategies to boost China-Africa cooperation to greater heights.
