Africa, China must work hard to achieve goal of shared prosperity – Senegalese President

By Jacob Kubeka –

Senegalese President, Macky Sall, said Africa and China must work hard in their shared goal of achieving shared prosperity for the benefit of African and Chinese peoples.

Sall said that Senegal, the co-chair of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), is pleased to host this important meeting three years after the FOCAC’s last momentous summit in Beijing, to further strengthen the long Chinese-African tradition of cordial friendship and dynamic partnership, in remarks delivered at the opening ceremony of the 8th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which began here Monday.

The president added that since the establishment of the FOCAC 21 years ago, Africa and China have progressed hand in hand, pragmatically and effectively, as indicated by the increased bilateral trade, investments, and numerous accomplishments under various action plans.

The conference’s theme, “Deepen China-Africa Partnership and Promote Sustainable Development to Build a China-Africa Community with a Shared Future in the New Era,” he said, is particularly relevant given the constant changes and global challenges to which Africa and China must adapt by further strengthening their political and economic ties.

The president commended China for its sustained assistance for Africa’s health response and economic recovery efforts, noting that the friendship had been successfully tested against the COVID-19 epidemic.

Sall recommended five priorities for the Ministerial Conference Roadmap during his remarks, including health security, agricultural modernization, technical and vocational training, infrastructural development, and developing Africa’s industrial potential.

The president encouraged Chinese enterprises to invest in Africa with more confidence and optimism.

“Twenty-one years after its launch, we can be proud of the achievements of our Forum, thanks to the collaboration of our States, our cities, our companies, and our peoples, in a spirit of friendly friendship, active solidarity, mutual trust and respect,” he said.

“Friendship, solidarity, trust, and respect. This is where the strength of our Forum lies; and it is this force that must continue to carry our vision and ambitions for the future, in order to deepen the China-Africa partnership and promote sustainable development to build a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era,” he said.

Xinhua