President of the Republic, Chairman of the African Union: China-Africa Cooperation Forum is a pioneering model for South-South cooperation

HE President of the Republic, Chairperson of the African Union, Mohamed Ould Cheikh El Ghazouani, participated Thursday in the opening ceremony of the 2024 Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit in Beijing, China.
During his speech, HE the President of the Republic congratulated Chinese President Xi Jinping on the holding of this fourth summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) at the level of presidents, and on its meticulous organization, stressing that China-Africa cooperation is a pioneering model for South-South cooperation, thanks to its ability to build new paths of solidarity and cooperation and accelerate common development for both sides, based on a solid foundation of friendship and respect, adding that China and African countries aim to raise bilateral relations to the strategic level.
The following is the text of His Excellency the President of the Republic, President of the African Union:

“In the name of God, the Merciful, the Compassionate
Peace and blessings be upon the most honorable messengers.

– His Excellency Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China.
– His Excellency Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of the Republic of Senegal, Co-Chair of the fourth session of the Forum on China Cooperation at the level of Presidents.
– Their Excellencies, Heads of State and Heads of Government.
– H.E. Mr. António Guterres, Secretary-General of the United Nations.
– H.E. Mr. Moussa Faki Mahamat, Chairperson of the African Union Commission.
– Gentlemen and ladies.
At the outset, I would like to extend my sincere congratulations to His Excellency Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, on the holding of this fourth edition of the China-Africa Cooperation Summit at the level of presidents, and on the precision and accuracy of its organization, thanking him and the Chinese government and people for the great care and generosity accorded to us and our accompanying delegation.

I would also like to extend my warmest congratulations to the Co-Chairs of this Summit, His Excellency Mr. Xi Jinping, President of the People’s Republic of China, and His Excellency Mr. Bassirou Diomaye Faye, President of the Republic of Senegal, for the great importance they attach to strengthening China-Africa cooperation for the common interests of both parties.

– Your Excellencies and Excellencies.
– Ladies and Gentlemen.

For a quarter of a century, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has served as a high-level platform and an effective framework for promoting and developing the China-Africa partnership, which today is a leading model for South-South cooperation, enabling it to build new paths of solidarity and cooperation and accelerate common development for both sides, based on a solid foundation of friendship, respect and mutual benefits.
The goal of the People’s Republic of China and African countries is to elevate bilateral relations to the strategic level and work together to promote modernization and build a high-quality Sino-African society with a shared future as the motto of our summit.
Together, plan by plan, initiative by initiative, we have been able to raise our trade to record levels, reaching more than $280 billion in 2023, thanks to China’s large investments in Africa, especially those under the Belt and Road Initiative to upgrade growth-supporting infrastructure – port, road, energy, digital and others.
African countries are in dire need of these pro-growth infrastructures, especially as they strive to achieve economic integration by promoting the African Continental Free Trade Area and realizing the objectives of Agenda 2063 in general.
Therefore, we greatly welcome and highly value the ten activities announced by His Excellency Mr. Xi Jinping in his speech, which will be implemented by China and Africa in many and varied fields, and we highly appreciate the announced financial support that will contribute to diversifying and deepening Africa-China cooperation.
The Sino-African partnership is not only based on trade and economic exchanges, but is also based on a strong shared vision and positions, such as belief in the common destiny of humanity and the need for sustainable, comprehensive development that benefits all countries and peoples, as well as adherence to the priority of promoting global peace and security and the need to build a more just and balanced multilateral international system so that all can enjoy peace and prosperity.
The African continent today, given the internal problems it faces and the negative repercussions of the destructive environmental, economic and security crises sweeping the world, needs the assistance of the People’s Republic of China in establishing security and stability, promoting growth and strengthening its voice in international forums with the strength to ensure that its specificities and priorities are taken into account in global agendas. This requires promoting multilateral cooperation, reviewing some aspects of the United Nations system and rebuilding international political and financial governance to make it more just, fair and balanced to ensure that all countries on the road to modernization enjoy peace and prosperity.
– Your Excellencies.
– Ladies and Gentlemen.

One of the most prominent manifestations of this fruitful Sino-African cooperation is the strong relations between the Islamic Republic of Mauritania and the People’s Republic of China, which have been steadily developing to serve the vital interests of the two friendly peoples and international peace and security.
China is Mauritania’s first trading partner. Sino-Mauritanian cooperation covers many important areas such as infrastructure, fisheries, health, education, transportation and energy.
The Mauritanian people will never forget China’s role in providing the city of Nouakchott with potable water in the early 1960s, the construction of many ports, roads, landmarks, sovereign buildings, and various development projects, and the generous Chinese support during the COVID-19 pandemic.
We in the Islamic Republic of Mauritania are determined, within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Africa Cooperation Plan 2035, to strengthen the partnership with the People’s Republic of China and to play the role that our geostrategic location, natural resources, ambitious development strategies and promising investment and development opportunities qualify us to play in realizing the aspirations of the African peoples and the friendly Chinese people.
As I wish our summit every success, I am convinced that it will have a great positive impact on our common endeavor to promote modernization and build a high-level Sino-African community with a shared future.
Thank you and may God’s peace, mercy and blessings be upon you.”