On September 2, 2018, when introducing the implementation situation of the outcomes of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) at the 7th Ministerial Conference of the FOCAC, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi pointed out that over the past three years, the guiding role and demonstration effect of the FOCAC have been constantly enhanced.
Wang Yi pointed out that with joint efforts of China and Africa, the mechanism building of the Forum has made new progress over the past three years. In July 2016, the two sides made innovation and held the Sherpa Meeting on Implementing Outcomes of the FOCAC Johannesburg Summit to align concepts and build consensus. The fourth Political Consultation between Chinese and African Foreign Ministers during the United Nations General Assembly and the 12th Senior Officials’ Meeting of the FOCAC were successfully held. The Chinese Follow-up Committee of the FOCAC has held six consultations with the African diplomatic corps in China. The African Union Commission, as an important member of the Forum, has participated in the consultations and other activities of the Forum in a more comprehensive and constructive manner.
Wang Yi expressed that the sub-forums on youth, ocean, defense, health, poverty alleviation, think tank, media, law and cooperation between local governments, as well as nongovernmental sub-forums between China and Africa have been blooming in more diversified forms and with richer contents, and have become an important driving force to promote the implementation of the outcomes of the Forum and a useful supplement to the forum mechanism, thus further deepening China-Africa cooperation in various fields.
Wang Yi expressed that the FOCAC serves as an important platform for collective dialogue as well as an effective mechanism to conduct practical cooperation between China and Africa, and it has been continuously releasing positive effects, making China-Africa cooperation not only walk in the forefront of the international cooperation with Africa, but also drive the international community to constantly increase investment in Africa and support Africa’s cause of peace and development.