A highly anticipated meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation is set to take place in Beijing during the autumn, providing a platform for leaders from China and African countries to engage in fruitful discussions on future development, cooperation, and the exchange of governance expertise, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday.

China has consistently placed great importance on its relations with African countries, as evidenced by Wang's recent visits to Egypt, Tunisia, Togo, and Cote d'Ivoire in January. Notably, this marked the 34th consecutive year in which the foreign minister chose Africa as the destination for their first overseas trip of the year.

"I'm confident that through this summit, China and Africa will bolster our longstanding friendship, deepen our unity and collaboration, and forge a new path towards accelerated mutual development," said Wang, who met the press on Thursday on the sidelines of the second session of the 14th National People's Congress.

"Together, we will usher in a new era for the China-Africa community of shared destiny, opening a fresh chapter of prosperity and cooperation."  

Wang pointed out that for the past 15 years, China has consistently been Africa's largest trading partner, and the cooperative efforts between China and Africa continue to expand, leading to a stronger bond between the peoples of both regions.  

"China and Africa are brothers treating each other with sincerity and sharing a common future," he said. "We have fought shoulder to shoulder in the struggle against imperialism and colonization, supported each other in our paths of development and revitalization, and stood for justice amid the ever-changing global landscape."

"The flourishing development of the Global South, represented by China and Africa, is profoundly influencing the course of world history," added Wang. "African nations are undergoing a new awakening, realizing that externally imposed models have not brought stability and prosperity."

"African countries need to explore development paths that align with their own national conditions in order to firmly grasp their own future and destinies."

"China will continue to stand firmly with its African brothers, supporting Africa in achieving true intellectual and conceptual independence. We will assist Africa in enhancing its capacity for independent development and support its accelerated modernization process."

Wang reiterated that China has always advocated against the marginalization of Africa. "With the flourishing development of China-Africa cooperation, other major powers have also turned their attention back to Africa, and China welcomes this," he said.

"We hope that all parties, like China, will increase their attention and investment in Africa, and support its development. We are also willing to engage in more trilateral and multilateral cooperation, based on respecting the wishes of the African side."