The fifth Ministerial Meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation kicks off in Beijing on July 19. [Xinhua]
中非合作论坛部长级会议7月19日在北京开幕。[新华社]

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.

女士们、先生们！

6年前，我们在这里召开了中非合作论坛北京峰会，中非双方一致同意建立中非新型战略伙伴关系。6年来，在中非双方共同努力下，中非新型战略伙伴关系取得了重大进展。中非在政治上互尊互信、友好关系全面发展，双方高层交往更加密切，对话交流更加深入，相互支持更加坚定，中国同非洲各国和非盟等地区组织关系深入发展，中国同多个非洲国家建立战略伙伴关系和战略对话机制，支持非洲国家自主解决地区热点问题，支持非洲一体化建设。中非在经济上互利互惠、务实合作不断深化，双方携手应对国际金融危机冲击，论坛北京峰会和第四届部长级会议推出的两组务实合作“八项举措”得到有效落实，中非全方位立体式合作体系稳步构筑。中国对非贸易和投资规模不断扩大。2011年中非贸易额达到1663亿美元，比2006年增加2倍。中国累计对非直接投资金额已达150多亿美元，项目遍及非洲50个国家。中国援建的非盟会议中心落成移交。中国对非援助稳步增长，为非洲国家援建了100多所学校、30所医院、30个抗疟中心和20个农业技术示范中心。中国兑现了向非洲提供150亿美元优惠性质贷款的承诺。中非在文化上互学互鉴、人文交流日趋活跃，中非文化聚焦、联合研究交流计划、智库论坛、民间论坛、青年领导人论坛等一系列交流活动相继启动。中国为非洲国家培训各类人员近4万名，向非洲国家提供2万多个政府奖学金名额。中非双方合作在22个非洲国家设立了29所孔子学院或孔子课堂。中非20对知名高校在“中非高校20＋20合作计划”框架下结为“一对一”合作关系。中非在国际事务中互帮互助、团结协作更加紧密，双方在联合国改革、应对气候变化、可持续发展、世贸组织多哈回合谈判等重大问题上密切配合，维护发展中国家共同利益，促进国际关系民主化，推动国际秩序朝着更加公正合理的方向发展。

事实证明，中非新型战略伙伴关系是中非传统友谊薪火相传的结果，符合中非双方根本利益，顺应和平、发展、合作的时代潮流。这一关系的建立，开启了中非关系新的历史征程，给双方交流合作注入了新的生机活力。我坚信，在双方共同努力下，中非新型战略伙伴关系必将迎来更加美好的未来。