The Sheger Park's Friendship Square, a landmark urban renovation project in Ethiopia's Addis Ababa aided by China, has become one of the largest urban comprehensive public squares with the most functions in Africa.

It is a gift to the 50th anniversary celebration of the establishment of diplomatic relations between the two countries as well as a key project under the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

Infrastructure connectivity, as the BRI has helped provide, not only promotes the development of the local economy but also creates employment for the African people, helping the continent demonstrate its new vitality.

China is the largest developing country in the world, and Africa is the continent with the largest number of developing countries. In particular, over the last decade, guided by the principles of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith, and of pursuing the greater good and shared interests in developing China's relations with Africa put forth by Chinese President Xi Jinping, China-Africa cooperation has also been deepened and substantiated. Ties have entered a fast track toward a new era of a stronger China-Africa community with a shared future.

Speaking to the African leaders, President Xi on Thursday said advancing modernization through integration is an independent choice made by the African countries and people. He mentioned that China has been a steadfast supporter, walking side by side with Africa on the path to modernization.

Xi made the remarks during a keynote speech while co-chairing the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa in Johannesburg.

"Drawing strength from the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, we have pressed ahead on the path of solidarity and cooperation," Xi noted.

Joining hands to advance modernization

Over the years, China has helped Africa build a significant amount of connectivity infrastructure, carried out extensive cooperation with the African Union (AU) and sub-regional organizations, and assisted in the construction of several signature pan-African projects, including the AU Conference Center and the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

China has been Africa's largest trading partner for 14 consecutive years. In the first seven months of 2023, China's trade with Africa reached 1.14 trillion yuan ($160 billion), marking a year-on-year increase of 7.4 percent, according to the General Administration of Customs of China.

Meanwhile, the joint construction of the BRI has brought new opportunities for China-Africa cooperation. China is actively establishing a "green channel" for the import of African agricultural products. African fruits and seafood, such as Madagascar's mud crab and South Africa's abalone, have entered the Chinese market, bringing stable income and development opportunities to the African people.

Since the establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) 23 years ago, Chinese companies have invested huge amounts to build and upgrade more than 10,000 kilometers of railways, nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads, as well as numerous bridges, ports, hospitals and schools in Africa. 

This effort has created a total of more than 4.5 million local jobs. For instance, the China-constructed Mombasa-Nairobi Standard Gauge Railway launched in 2017 has cumulatively created nearly 50,000 jobs for the local community and trained more than 1,700 Kenyan specialists in railway technology and management.

For China, investment in Africa is conducive to creating a smoother and more stable global industrial chain and to helping Chinese enterprises achieve their own development.

Stressing the importance of extensive consultation and joint contributions for shared benefits, Xi said that China will collaborate with Africa to enhance the synergy of their development strategies through BRI cooperation and FOCAC.

According to Xi, China will launch the Initiative on Supporting Africa's Industrialization, the Plan for China Supporting Africa's Agricultural Modernization, and the Plan for China-Africa Cooperation on Talent Development. These initiatives will chart the course for bilateral practical cooperation in the next stage and help Africa expedite its integration and modernization.

Specifically, China will allocate more resources for assistance, investment and financing toward industrialization programs. They will also enhance cooperation with Africa in areas such as seed technology and other aspects of agro-technology, as well as train 500 principals and high-caliber teachers of vocational colleges every year, along with 10,000 technical personnel with both Chinese language and vocational skills for Africa. 

For a peaceful, bright future

With steady progress under the AU's Agenda 2063, the official launch of the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), and growing coordination among subregional groups, Africa is becoming an important pole with global influence.

Noting that Africa is moving at an accelerated speed toward the bright prospects envisioned in Agenda 2063 and making all-out efforts to build a new Africa that enjoys peace, unity, prosperity, and strength, Xi called on China and Africa to work together to create a sound environment for realizing their respective development visions.

In a joint statement released after the dialogue, China and Africa noted the importance of the African Peace and Security Architecture as a strong normative framework for addressing security challenges and threats on the continent.

"China is ready to work with Africa to implement the new vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative, and sustainable security, advocating the resolution of differences and disputes through dialogue and cooperation," Xi said during the dialogue.

Calling for building an open and inclusive world economy, the Chinese president said, "What we need is to remove barriers rather than erect walls and open up rather than close off to allow developing countries to be better involved in the international division of labor and share the fruits of economic globalization."

China will host the FOCAC meeting next year, where both sides will come together again and draw up new plans for development.

Xi expressed his belief that China and Africa will carry forward the traditional friendship, enhance solidarity and coordination, deliver a better future for the Chinese and African peoples, and set a fine example in building a community with a shared future for mankind.

(Cover: The Nairobi Expressway constructed by the China Road and Bridge Corporation in Nairobi, Kenya, May 8, 2022. /Xinhua)