Building a Shared Future: China-Africa ministerial meeting held in Beijing

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02:39

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and foreign ministers from 53 African countries met in Beijing on Sunday for the 7th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. CGTN's Hou Na talked to some of the ministers on their expectations for the Summit.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi co-chaired the meeting with his South African counterparts. He said since the 2015 Johannesburg Summit, substantial achievements have been made in trade and finance, green development, and people-to-people exchanges.

NIBIGIRA EZECHIEL FOREIGN MINISTER, REPUBLIC OF BURUNDI "China is implementing the politics of mutual friendship between China and African countries. This friendship is based on our win-win relationship. That's why you see the all the countries from Africa have come because we have that mutual respect between China and African countries."

He stressed that the ministers' meeting will pave the way for the Leaders' Summit. Ministers from African countries said they have high expectations for it.

MANUEL DOMINGOS AUGUSTO MINISTER OF EXTERNAL RELATIONS, REPUBLIC OF ANGOLA "Very high expectations because this is a new platform. The relations between China and Africa is really unique. We believe we will bring back not only projects but also new ideas."

Wang said both China and African countries are committed to working together under China's proposed Belt and Road Initiative. The initiative can help Africa achieve the goals of the African Union's Agenda 2063 and the UN's 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

HANS FRIEDERICH, DIRECTOR GENERAL INTERNATIONAL NETWORK FOR BAMBOO & RATTAN "We have 19 members in Africa where there is natural bamboo. For us this discussion between China and Africa is incredibly important, great opportunities to work with Chinese technologies with Chinese knowledge in Africa to develop this fantastic natural resources."

The Beijing Declaration and Beijing Action Plan (2019-2021) were both passed at the meeting. The two documents will be put to vote at the Leaders' Summit. HOU NA CGTN , BEIJING