President Xi Jinping to Spearhead 2024 FOCAC Summit Aiming at a High-Level China-Africa Community

The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) is poised to convene one of its most significant summits yet, with Chinese President Xi Jinping set to grace the opening ceremony on September 5, 2024, in the nation’s capital, Beijing. Delivering a much-anticipated keynote speech, President Xi will lay out China's vision for a deeper, high-level community with African nations.

Under the theme "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future," the three-day summit will take place from September 4 to 6, and is expected to be the largest diplomatic event organized by China in recent years, marking another milestone in the longstanding friendship between China and the African continent.

A high-caliber gathering is in prospect as leaders from FOCAC's African member countries and heads of relevant continental and international organizations will be in attendance. Vice Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong emphasized that the summit will also host a special guest — the UN secretary-general — and feature representation from a variety of global and regional bodies.

The Summit's agenda is a holistic compilation of pertinent issues: state governance, industrialization, agricultural modernization, peace and security, and enhanced collaboration under the Belt and Road initiative. Parallel sessions such as the eighth China-Africa entrepreneurs' conference will supplement the discussions.

President Xi will announce groundbreaking initiatives and pragmatic cooperative endeavors, reflecting China’s commitment to foster a high-level community with a shared future with Africa. The summit aims to reach a consensus and launch an action plan for China-Africa cooperation over the next three years.

FOCAC, having established itself in the last 24 years as a cornerstone for China-Africa relations, embraces principles of mutual consultation, joint contribution, and shared benefits, which have yielded substantial advancements and set a precedent for international and South-South cooperation. The Summit will not only address immediate challenges but also pave the way for development opportunities, with China and Africa joining forces on their path to modernization.

Furthermore, the Summit promises to catalyze the bond between the Chinese and African peoples, fostering global modernization's forward thrust and highlighting the power of unity and collaboration in advancing a common future.