By Aidoghie Paulinus
On June 11, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping and the President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, sent鈥俹ngratulatory letters鈥俹 the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), and extended warm congratulations to the convening of the meeting.
In his congratulatory message, Xi pointed out鈥俬at since its establishment 25 years ago, the FOCAC鈥俛s strongly driven鈥俬e flourishing development of China-Africa cooperation and become a model for solidarity and cooperation in鈥俬e Global South.
Xi鈥俥called that in September 2024, at the FOCAC Beijing Summit, he鈥俷d African leaders鈥俷animously鈥俫reed鈥俹 jointly advance modernization鈥俬at is just and equitable, open and win-win and eco-friendly, puts the people first, features diversity and inclusiveness, and is underpinned by peace and security, and to take ten partnership actions, steering China-Africa relations into a new stage of building an all-weather China-Africa community with a shared future for the new era.
Thanks to the concerted efforts of both sides, the implementation of the outcomes鈥俧 the Summit鈥俛s already yielded a number of encouraging early harvests. The two sides have also reached a consensus on organizing鈥俬e China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges鈥俷 2026.鈥俰 expressed the belief that this will inject new vitality into鈥俬ina-Africa friendly cooperation.
He emphasized that the current international landscape is marked by intertwined changes and turbulence.
According to Xi, 鈥淐hina remains committed to creating鈥俥w opportunities for the world through the鈥俥w achievements in Chinese modernization, and providing new momentum for Africa and other Global South partners through China鈥檚 big market. Through the鈥俷try into agreements鈥俷 economic鈥俛rtnership for shared鈥俥velopment, China implements鈥俥ro-tariff measures of granting 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines, and facilitates鈥俽eater access for exports from Africa鈥檚 least developed countries to China.鈥
Xi further assured that China is ready to work with the African side to further鈥俶plement the ten partnership actions, strengthen cooperation in key areas such as green industries, e-commerce and payment, science and technology, and artificial intelligence, deepen cooperation in such fields as security, finance, and the rule of law, and jointly promote high-quality development of China-Africa cooperation.
He pointed out that openness and cooperation鈥俥re鈥俬e right path forward, and mutual benefit is the shared aspiration of the people.
Xi said: 鈥淛oint efforts by China and Africa to advance modernization will strongly promote solidarity and cooperation in鈥俬e Global South and open up brighter鈥俽ospects for the cause of peace and development鈥俽ound the world.鈥
He expressed hope that both sides will continue to advance the implementation of鈥俬e outcomes of the Summit with鈥俹lid efforts, carefully plan the future development of the FOCAC, and work hand in hand to build an鈥俵l-weather China-Africa community with a shared future鈥俹r the new era, contributing the strength of China and Africa to the building of a community with a shared future for mankind.
In his congratulatory鈥俥tter, Nguesso鈥俛id鈥俬at since the convening of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, Africa-China strategic and practical cooperation has yielded fruitful results.
Noting that the Ministerial Meeting鈥俧 Coordinators鈥俹incides with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the FOCAC, Nguesso pledged to make鈥俵l-out鈥俧forts鈥俷d work unwaveringly with President Xi to make greater progress in building an Africa-China community with a shared future and to enhance the well-being of the people on both sides.
鈥淎s the African co-chair of the FOCAC, the Republic of the Congo will鈥俹rk with China and other Global South countries to strengthen cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, jointly build a multipolar world free from unilateralism and protectionism, and usher in a new era of universally beneficial and inclusive globalization,鈥 Nguesso said.