Chinese President Xi Jinping on Sunday sent a congratulatory message to the 33rd session of the African Union (AU) heads of state, which is being held in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa.

Xi pointed out that since last year, under the leadership of the AU, African countries have actively explored development paths consistent with their own conditions, and insisted on solving African problems in an African way.

The Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has led a new wave in the China-Africa friendship, and the breakthroughs made at the summit have injected new impetus into practical cooperation in various fields, Xi said.

He added that China will comprehensively promote the outcome of the FOCAC, accelerate the joint construction of the Belt and Road, and contribute to the revitalization of African development and to better benefit the peoples of China and Africa.