By Aidoghie Paulinus
On June 11, 2025, Chinese President Xi Jinping and the President of the Republic of Congo, Denis Sassou Nguesso, sent ongratulatory letters o 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 hat since its establishment 25 years ago, the FOCAC as strongly driven he flourishing development of China-Africa cooperation and become a model for solidarity and cooperation in he Global South.
Xi ecalled that in September 2024, at the FOCAC Beijing Summit, he nd African leaders nanimously greed o jointly advance modernization hat 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 f the Summit as already yielded a number of encouraging early harvests. The two sides have also reached a consensus on organizing he China-Africa Year of People-to-People Exchanges n 2026. i expressed the belief that this will inject new vitality into hina-Africa friendly cooperation.
He emphasized that the current international landscape is marked by intertwined changes and turbulence.
According to Xi, “China remains committed to creating ew opportunities for the world through the ew achievements in Chinese modernization, and providing new momentum for Africa and other Global South partners through China’s big market. Through the ntry into agreements n economic artnership for shared evelopment, China implements ero-tariff measures of granting 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines, and facilitates reater access for exports from Africa’s least developed countries to China.”
Xi further assured that China is ready to work with the African side to further mplement 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 ere he right path forward, and mutual benefit is the shared aspiration of the people.
Xi said: “Joint efforts by China and Africa to advance modernization will strongly promote solidarity and cooperation in he Global South and open up brighter rospects for the cause of peace and development round the world.”
He expressed hope that both sides will continue to advance the implementation of he outcomes of the Summit with olid efforts, carefully plan the future development of the FOCAC, and work hand in hand to build an ll-weather China-Africa community with a shared future or 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 etter, Nguesso aid hat since the convening of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, Africa-China strategic and practical cooperation has yielded fruitful results.
Noting that the Ministerial Meeting f Coordinators oincides with the 25th anniversary of the establishment of the FOCAC, Nguesso pledged to make ll-out fforts nd 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.
“As the African co-chair of the FOCAC, the Republic of the Congo will ork 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,” Nguesso said.