By Edson Baraukwa | Africa Guardian
Chinese President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed that China and Africa remain a community with a shared future, emphasizing the importance of solidarity and cooperation between the two regions amid a complex global landscape. Xi expressed these sentiments in a letter to scholars from 50 African countries on Tuesday.
In his letter, Xi highlighted the need for China and Africa to strengthen their partnership more than ever before, given the current volatile and interconnected world situation. He encouraged African scholars to continue offering intellectual support in building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future and in safeguarding the common interests of the Global South.
Xi also referred to the recent third plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which set the stage for advancing Chinese modernization through deeper reforms. He underscored that China’s ongoing development, grounded in peaceful growth and a commitment to reform and openness, would bolster global peace and justice and provide significant momentum for global modernization, particularly in the Global South.
Looking ahead to the upcoming Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Xi expressed optimism about the prospects for furthering China-Africa relations. He called for both sides to build on the Dar es Salaam Consensus by enhancing research and exploration on the development pathways for Global South countries, China-Africa cooperation, and South-South cooperation.
Xi also emphasized the importance of intellectual collaboration to build a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future and to protect the common interests of the Global South.
This letter from Xi came in response to a joint message sent by Gert Grobler, a former South African diplomat and honorary professor at the Institute of African Studies at Zhejiang Normal University, along with 63 scholars from 50 African countries. They congratulated Xi on the success of the third plenary session of the 20th CPC Central Committee, praised the historic achievements of FOCAC, and expressed hope that the upcoming FOCAC Summit would mark a new chapter in building a China-Africa community with a shared future and advancing modernization in the Global South.
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