China is ready to cooperate with Africa to protect its economic interest, China’s President Xi Jinping said at a meeting with President Felix Tshisekedi of the Democratic Republic of Congo today. The D.R. Congo President is among a number of African leaders who have arrived in Beijing for the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) over Sept. 4-6.
“China is ready to use the historic opportunity to work with the Democratic Republic of the Congo to cement mutual strategic trust, facilitate mutually beneficial cooperation, and jointly promote China-Africa cooperation, protect the mutual interests of developing countries, and contribute to the Global South’s stride towards peace and development amid major global changes,” Xi was quoted as saying by China Central Television.
China supports the D.R. Congo in safeguarding national sovereignty and realizing independent development, and is ready to consolidate political mutual trust with the D.R.C., firmly support each other, seek common development, deepen cooperation in agriculture, mineral products processing, vocational training and other fields, and continue to help the D.R.C. turn its resource advantage into momentum for development, Beijing’s Foreign Ministry reported.
Among the African leaders who have already arrived for FOCAC summit are Zambian President Hakainde Hichilema, South Sudanese President Salva Kiir, Eritrean President Isaias Afwerki, Nigerian President Bola Tinubu, President of the Comoros Azali Assoumani, and Mali’s transitional President Col. Assimi Goïta. President of the Central Africa Republic Faustin-Archange Touadera, who arrived in China last week has visited Chongqing and Shandong Province since Aug. 28, to learn about China’s achievements in urbanization, new energy, cultural industries, agriculture and the digital economy, reported the Global Times.
