China's Ministry of National Defense announced on Thursday that a first ever China-Africa Peace and Security Forum will be held from July 14 to 20. The event echoes Chinese President Xi Jinping's speech from the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit in 2018.

The forum to be held in Beijing has the theme of "cooperating hand in hand to consolidate security," and delegates, including those from African countries and the African Union, will have in-depth discussions on topics such as African security, important regional issues, Africa’s capacity to build independent security and China-Africa peace and security cooperation, according to ministry spokesperson Ren Guoqiang.

China and Africa have had long-lasting cooperation in the security field. On May 26, 2019, the last troops of the sixth Chinese peacekeeping force to Mali returned home. 

The force included an engineer contingent and a medical contingent, and completed each task at high standards. Under the framework of FOCAC, the new forum will provide a platform for China and African countries to enhance exchanges and cooperation, and bring more global attention to peace and security throughout Africa.

(Cover: Chinese peacekeepers stand guard outside the camp of east theater of operation command headquarters of UN Mali Peacekeeping Mission in Gao, Mali, May 27, 2015. /Xinhua Photo)