Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi highlighted cooperation with African countries while attending a celebration event in Beijing as Tuesday marks the 58th Africa Day.

Africa Day, formerly known as the African Freedom Day,  commemorates the founding of the Organization of African Unity in 1963. 

Wang stressed that Africa Day also marks a common holiday for China and Africa. Strengthening unity and cooperation with African countries is the constant priority of China's diplomacy. China and Africa are fighting side by side in the great struggle for national independence and safeguarding national dignity, while supporting each other on issues involving each other's core interests and major concerns, he said.

Amid the COVID-19 pandemic, he said that China and Africa helped each other to overcome the difficulties together. China has been the largest trade partner country for Africa for the 12th consecutive year, he said, adding that China-Africa cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative has continued to deepen and become more effective.

He put forward four suggestions for creating a new situation in China-Africa cooperation. He called on both sides to make a success of the next meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), work together to quickly defeat the COVID-19 epidemic, promote the development of practical cooperation in a steady manner, and strengthen coordination in international affairs.

Martin Mpana, Cameroon's ambassador to China and dean of the African Diplomatic Corps in China, said that Africa and China should jointly host the FOCAC meeting and send a strong message to the international community that Africa and China will join hands to promote fairness, justice and peaceful cooperation in the world.

On May 25, 1963, the Organization of African Unity – the predecessor of the African Union – was established, and May 25 was designated as Africa Day. The African Diplomatic Corps in China holds a celebratory reception in Beijing every year. This year's reception was co-hosted by China and the African Diplomatic Corps in China.

China and Africa have maintained dynamic economic and trade cooperation. Official data showed that China had been Africa's largest trading partner for more than a decade. Over the past three years, China's agricultural imports from Africa have grown at an average annual rate of 14 percent, making China the second-largest agricultural importer in Africa.

In 2020, China's direct investments were almost $3 billion in Africa, covering 47 African countries. Meanwhile, the number of newly signed contracts in Africa increased by 21.4 percent year-on-year, reaching $68 billion. 

(With input from Xinhua)