The China-Africa Cooperation Forum (FOCAC) in Beijing is a historical monument for China and Africa to strengthen unity and cooperation and promote common development, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday while briefing the media on the outcomes of the summit.

Noting the forum has reached a series of achievements with far-reaching significance and important influences, Wang said the most significant successes were that China and Africa agreed to build a closer community with a shared future, African countries have actively supported and participated in the joint construction of the Belt and Road, and that African countries highly appreciate the eight major initiatives announced by Chinese President Xi Jinping.

The minister also summed up the distinctive features of the summit, which was a high-level meeting full of rich results and received attentions from worldwide.

First, the number of ministers and representatives from the African member states of the FOCAC reached the record of previous China-Africa summits. More than 3,200 Chinese and foreign participants attending the forum made it the largest and most standard home-based diplomatic event held by China to date.

Second, leaders from both sides held more than 100 events including the opening ceremony of the summit, the leaders' round table and bilateral talks. Nearly 150 types of cooperation agreements were signed and witnessed by both sides, comprehensively deepening China-Africa cooperation.

Third, flags from China and Africa were seen flying around the streets in Beijing during the summit, deeply rooting the friendship between China and Africa in the hearts of the people. African leaders also sincerely thanked China for its great contribution to helping Africa get rid of poverty and achieve sustainable development.

Meanwhile, media from both sides have reported on the summit. Stories from the conference and China-Africa friendship always occupied the front page, and the international mainstream media also broadcast a large number of special reports focusing on and highlighting the summit.

When asked the significance of Xi's speeches during the summit, Wang said his words were a concentrated expression of China's new ideas and new initiatives in the new era. 

Xi announced eight initiatives with African countries for the years to come in a keynote speech delivered at the opening of the FOCAC, which have planned the specific path of China-Africa common development, Wang explained.

Also, the FOCAC Beijing Action Plan (2019-2021) adopted at the summit confirmed that China and Africa will comprehensively enhance pragmatic cooperation focusing on the implementation of the eight major initiatives, namely industrial promotion, infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation, green development, capacity building, health care, people-to-people exchange, and peace and security.

"Xi's speeches lead the direction of China's diplomacy in terms of ideas, action and practice, and vigorously promoting China-Africa friendship and cooperation," Wang added.