President Xi Jinping announced that China would provide an additional one billion doses of COVID-19 vaccines to Africa and pledged to jointly implement nine programs on China-Africa future cooperation in a speech via video link at the opening ceremony of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) on November 30.

In the speech, Xi made four proposals regarding building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, namely fighting COVID-19 with solidarity, deepening practical cooperation, promoting green development, and upholding equity and justice.

Xi also said that China will work closely with African countries to implement nine programs under the first three-year plan of the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035, which was jointly prepared by the two sides before the conference.

In order to help the African Union achieve its goal of vaccinating 60 percent of the African population by 2022, Xi announced that China will provide another one billion doses of vaccines to Africa, including 600 million doses as donation and 400 million doses to be provided through such means as joint production by Chinese companies and relevant African countries. In addition, China will undertake 10 medical and health projects for African countries, and send 1,500 medical personnel and public health experts to Africa.

Meanwhile, China will undertake 10 poverty reduction and agricultural projects for Africa, and send 500 agricultural experts to Africa. China will set up a number of China-Africa joint centers for modern agrotechnology exchange, demonstration and training in China, encourage Chinese institutions and companies to build in Africa demonstration villages for China-Africa cooperation on agricultural development and poverty reduction, and support the Alliance of Chinese Companies in Africa for Corporate Social Responsibilities in launching the initiative of "100 Companies in 1,000 Villages," noted Xi.

Moreover, China will undertake 10 digital economy projects for Africa, set up centers for China-Africa cooperation on satellite remote-sensing application, and support the development of China-Africa joint laboratories, partner institutes, and scientific and technological innovation cooperation bases, said Xi.

A green development program is mentioned as well. China will undertake 10 green development, environmental protection and climate action projects for Africa, support the development of the "Great Green Wall", and build centers of demonstration on low-carbon development and climate change adaptation in Africa.

The other programs are in terms of trade, investment, capacity building, cultural and people-to-people exchange, and peace and security.

Source: XINHUA