At noon on September 5, 2024, President Xi Jinping met with United Nations Secretary-General António Guterres, who is in China for the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Xi Jinping welcomed António Guterres to attend the FOCAC Beijing Summit in China as a special guest. Noting that they just attended the opening ceremony of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, Xi Jinping stated that China attaches great importance to developing China-Africa relations. After the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China (CPC), his first overseas visit was to Africa, where he put forward in Tanzania the principle of sincerity, real results, amity, and good faith towards Africa and attended all subsequent FOCAC summits. China has no selfish interests in its cooperation with Africa. Half a century ago, in the face of its own economic difficulties, China responded to the expectations of its African brothers by vigorously assisting the construction of the Tanzania-Zambia Railway, writing a touching story of China-Africa friendship. Just now at the opening ceremony of the summit, Xi Jinping announced new actions and measures for practical cooperation with Africa. Yesterday, he also witnessed the signing of the agreement on activating the Tanzania-Zambia Railway with the heads of state of Tanzania and Zambia, which was aimed at carrying forward the China-Africa friendship. He has proposed the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, with the hope that people in Africa and other parts of the world can live a happy life. This is also in line with the common aspirations and desires of people from all countries amid the changes unseen in a century in the world. China appreciates that the United Nations has always attached importance to Africa and is ready to strengthen cooperation with the United Nations to jointly help Africa achieve peace, stability, development and revitalization.
Xi Jinping briefed António Guterres on the Third Plenary Session of the 20th CPC Central Committee and his views on the current world situation, pointing out that despite various uncertainties and even stormy waters ahead, the general direction of human development and progress will not change. He has proposed high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, as well as the Global Development Initiative, the Global Security Initiative and the Global Civilization Initiative, in the hope that all countries will join hands to build a community with a shared future for mankind and steer the ship of humanity toward a bright future of peace, security, prosperity and progress. Chinese modernization will provide more new opportunities for countries around the world and inject new impetus into safeguarding world peace and promoting common development.
Xi Jinping stressed that practicing true multilateralism and supporting the United Nations in playing a central role in international affairs has always been the principle of China's diplomacy and will not change. At present, the evolving and turbulent international situation has accentuated the important role played by the United Nations, which should be even more active. China will continue to actively participate in the work of the United Nations in various fields, support the United Nations in hosting the Summit of the Future, promote the reform of the international financial architecture, strengthen artificial intelligence (AI) governance, and make greater contributions to world peace and development.
António Guterres thanked the Chinese side for inviting him to attend the FOCAC Beijing Summit. He said that historically, Africa has been the primary victim of colonialism. China's cooperation with Africa will help reduce the historical injustice suffered by Africa and help Africa achieve peace and development. China's peaceful development is a noble cause in the history of mankind and is conducive to the peace and progress of all humanity. The United Nations is ready to strengthen cooperation with China to resist actions that create division and undermine common progress, jointly practice multilateralism, promote more just and equitable global governance, and build a community with a shared future for mankind. The United Nations is making every effort to prepare for the Summit of the Future, and hopes to have close communication with China to promote the reform of the international financial architecture and strengthen global AI governance.
Wang Yi was present at the meeting.
