Beijing Declaration-Toward an Even Stronger China-Africa Community with a Shared Future

1.1 We, the Heads of State, Government and Delegations of the People’s Republic of China and 53 African countries, and the Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC), gathered in China on the 3rd and 4th of September for the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Under the theme “China and Africa: Toward an Even Stronger Community with a Shared Future through Win-Win Cooperation” and committed to the development of FOCAC and to deepening China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership, we adopted by consensus the Beijing Declaration-Toward an Even Stronger China-Africa Community with a Shared Future.

1.2 We extend warm congratulations to the Republic of the Gambia, the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, and Burkina Faso on becoming new members of FOCAC following the Johannesburg Summit.

2. In a world of major development, transformation and adjustments, peace and development remain our common aspirations. Growing interconnection and inter-dependence among countries has made collaboration the only viable way to effectively address terrorism, conflicts, wealth gaps, poverty, climate change, land degradation, food insecurity, major communicable diseases, protectionism and other global challenges.

3.1 Recalling and fully endorsing the vision of “a community with a shared future for mankind” and “China-Africa community with a shared future”, which has been articulated by leaders of China and Africa on both bilateral and multilateral occasions in recent years, we call on all countries to work in concert toward a community with a shared future for mankind, an open, inclusive, clean, and beautiful world that enjoys lasting peace, universal security, and common prosperity, and a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice, and win-win cooperation, with a view to upholding and advancing world peace and development.

3.2 We believe that China and Africa are a community with a shared future. China is the largest developing country. Africa is the continent with the most developing countries. Sharing weal and woe, the Chinese and African peoples have forged a deep friendship rooted in our similar historical experiences, development tasks and political aspirations. We agree to strengthen collective dialogue, enhance traditional friendship, deepen practical cooperation, and work together toward an even stronger China-Africa community with a shared future.

4.1 We applaud that, under the Belt and Road Initiative, the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits is observed; market principles and international norms are followed; openness, transparency, and win-win results are advocated and practiced; efforts are made to develop inclusive, accessible and reasonably priced infrastructure that delivers extensive benefits and are consistent with the national conditions and laws and regulations of related countries, with a view to promoting high-quality and sustainable development for all. The Belt and Road development responds to the call of the times and brings benefits to all peoples.

4.2 Africa, being part of the historical and natural extension of the Belt and Road, has been an important participant in this initiative. The cooperation between China and Africa under the Belt and Road Initiative will generate more resources and means, expand the market and space for African development, and broaden its development prospects. We agree to form a strong synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development of the United Nations, Agenda 2063 of the African Union (AU), as well as the development strategies of African countries. The closer connectivity in policy, infrastructure, trade, finance and people-to-people ties, strengthened industrial capacity cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, and greater cooperation in the planning of African infrastructure and industrial development will lend new impetus to the win-win cooperation and common development between China and Africa.

4.3 African countries support China in hosting the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2019. China welcomes African countries’ active participation in the Forum.