The fifth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation kicks off in Beijing on July 19. [Xinhua]
中非合作論壇部長級會議7月19日在北京開幕。[新華社]

Ladies and Gentlemen,

When we met here six years ago at the FOCAC Beijing Summit, China and Africa decided to establish a new type of strategic partnership. Since then, important progress has been made in realizing this vision thanks to the joint efforts of both sides. China and Africa have enhanced all-round friendly political relations featuring mutual respect and mutual trust. We have conducted more frequent high-level exchange of visits and more in-depth dialogue and exchanges, and provided stronger support to each other. China's relations with all African countries, the African Union (AU) and other regional organizations have grown in strength. China has formed strategic partnerships and launched strategic dialogue mechanisms with many African countries. And China has supported African countries in independently resolving hotspot issues in the region and advancing the process of African integration. China and Africa have deepened practical economic cooperation featuring mutual benefit. We have joined hands to fight the international financial crisis, effectively implemented the eight measures for practical cooperation announced at the Beijing Summit and eight additional measures announced at the Fourth Ministerial Conference, and made steady progress in building a framework of all-round cooperation. China's trade with and investment in Africa have been expanding. In 2011, our two-way trade reached 166.3 billion U.S. dollars, three times the figure in 2006. Cumulative Chinese direct investment in Africa has exceeded 15 billion U.S. dollars, with investment projects covering 50 countries. The AU Conference Center and Office Complex built by China was handed over to the African side. China's assistance to Africa has been growing steadily. China has built over 100 schools, 30 hospitals, 30 anti-malaria centers and 20 agricultural technology demonstration centers in Africa. It has met the pledge of providing 15 billion U.S. dollars of lending of a preferential nature to Africa. China and Africa have conducted increasing people-to-people and cultural exchanges featuring mutual learning. A number of activities have been carried out, including the Chinese/African Cultures in Focus, Joint Research and Exchange Plan, Think Tanks Forum, People's Forum and Young Leaders Forum. China has trained close to 40,000 African personnel in various sectors and provided over 20,000 government scholarships to African countries. China and Africa have set up 29 Confucius Institutes or Classrooms in 22 African countries. Twenty pairs of leading Chinese and African universities have entered into cooperation under the 20+20 Cooperation Plan for Chinese and African Institutions of Higher Education. China and African have enjoyed closer ties of solidarity and coordination featuring mutual help and mutual support in international affairs. Our two sides have worked closely on UN reform, countering climate change, sustainable development, WTO Doha Round negotiations and other major issues. In so doing, we have upheld the common interests of developing countries, promoted democracy in international relations, and we are working to make the international order more just and equitable.

Facts have shown that the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership is the result of continuous growth of the traditional friendship between the two sides. It meets the fundamental interests of China and Africa and conforms to the global trend of peace, development and cooperation. The forging of this partnership has inaugurated a new historical process in growing China-Africa relations and added new momentum to China-Africa exchanges and cooperation. I am confident that, with our joint efforts, the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership will embrace an even brighter future.

女士們、先生們！

6年前，我們在這里召開了中非合作論壇北京峰會，中非雙方一致同意建立中非新型戰略伙伴關系。6年來，在中非雙方共同努力下，中非新型戰略伙伴關系取得了重大進展。中非在政治上互尊互信、友好關系全面發展，雙方高層交往更加密切，對話交流更加深入，相互支持更加堅定，中國同非洲各國和非盟等地區組織關系深入發展，中國同多個非洲國家建立戰略伙伴關系和戰略對話機制，支持非洲國家自主解決地區熱點問題，支持非洲一體化建設。中非在經濟上互利互惠、務實合作不斷深化，雙方攜手應對國際金融危機沖擊，論壇北京峰會和第四屆部長級會議推出的兩組務實合作“八項舉措”得到有效落實，中非全方位立體式合作體系穩步構筑。中國對非貿易和投資規模不斷擴大。2011年中非貿易額達到1663億美元，比2006年增加2倍。中國累計對非直接投資金額已達150多億美元，項目遍及非洲50個國家。中國援建的非盟會議中心落成移交。中國對非援助穩步增長，為非洲國家援建了100多所學校、30所醫院、30個抗瘧中心和20個農業技術示范中心。中國兌現了向非洲提供150億美元優惠性質貸款的承諾。中非在文化上互學互鑒、人文交流日趨活躍，中非文化聚焦、聯合研究交流計劃、智庫論壇、民間論壇、青年領導人論壇等一系列交流活動相繼啟動。中國為非洲國家培訓各類人員近4萬名，向非洲國家提供2萬多個政府獎學金名額。中非雙方合作在22個非洲國家設立了29所孔子學院或孔子課堂。中非20對知名高校在“中非高校20＋20合作計劃”框架下結為“一對一”合作關系。中非在國際事務中互幫互助、團結協作更加緊密，雙方在聯合國改革、應對氣候變化、可持續發展、世貿組織多哈回合談判等重大問題上密切配合，維護發展中國家共同利益，促進國際關系民主化，推動國際秩序朝著更加公正合理的方向發展。

事實證明，中非新型戰略伙伴關系是中非傳統友誼薪火相傳的結果，符合中非雙方根本利益，順應和平、發展、合作的時代潮流。這一關系的建立，開啟了中非關系新的歷史征程，給雙方交流合作注入了新的生機活力。我堅信，在雙方共同努力下，中非新型戰略伙伴關系必將迎來更加美好的未來。