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.

5.1 We applaud the role FOCAC has played over the past 18 years to promote China-Africa relations. The follow-up actions and the implementation of the outcomes of the Johannesburg Summit, including the "ten cooperation plans" and the FOCAC Johannesburg Action Plan (2016-2018), have produced fruitful results.

5.2 We recognize that the FOCAC mechanism is increasingly efficient and has become a leading player in international cooperation with Africa. We agree to uphold the existing mechanism and preserve its uniqueness and strengths to further advance China-Africa relations and cooperation in the new era. We also agree to make the Forum a major platform for China-Africa cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative.

6. China will continue to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with African countries in keeping with the principle of upholding justice while pursuing shared interests and the principle of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith, as proposed by H.E. President Xi Jinping. We are committed to working together to leverage our respective strengths, accommodating each other's concerns, and developing and enriching the China-Africa comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership to the benefit of the Chinese and African peoples.

7.1 China commends the African integration process, and pledges its continued support for Africa's efforts in seeking strength through unity, accelerating integration, upholding peace and stability, and achieving even faster economic growth. China takes note of the encouraging progress achieved in these areas at the AU Summits in recent years.

7.2 We welcome China's stronger cooperation with the AU, its agencies and African regional economic organizations, and support the AUC in playing a constructive role in promoting China-Africa transnational and trans-regional cooperation. China welcomes a representational office of the AU in Beijing, and supports AU reform to enhance its capacity building and efficiency.

8. We agree to continue to give each other firm support in upholding territorial integrity, sovereignty, security and development interests. African members of FOCAC reaffirm their commitment to the one-China principle, and their support for China's reunification and China's efforts in resolving territorial and maritime disputes peacefully through friendly consultation and negotiation. China reaffirms its commitment, on the basis of the one-China principle, to growing friendship and cooperation with all African countries and sharing with them its development opportunities. China reiterates its firm commitment to the principle of non-interference in others' internal affairs and supports African countries in independently exploring development paths suited to their national conditions.

9. China pledges to work with African countries to synergize development strategies and increase experience-sharing on governance, poverty reduction and development, particularly on rural socio-economic development, gender equality and women and youth empowerment. China supports African countries in working for development and rejuvenation and acting on Agenda 2063 and its first ten-year implementation plan, with a view to achieving independent and sustainable development.

10. We applaud the remarkable progress and positive results achieved by China and Africa in anti-corruption cooperation. We will continue to bear zero tolerance toward corruption and strengthen the institutions and mechanisms for anti-corruption cooperation. We welcome the launching of the African Anti-Corruption Year, and will take it as an opportunity to further enhance South-South cooperation and experience-sharing in a joint effort to fight corruption and promote integrity.

11. We commend the principle of common, intensive, green, safe and open development agreed by both sides to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation under the new circumstances, and applaud the fruitful China-Africa economic and trade cooperation, particularly the remarkable results of cooperation in such areas as trade, investment, financing and infrastructure. We believe that economic and trade cooperation remains the anchor and the propeller for China-Africa relations. China will continue to, in keeping with the principle of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, help enhance Africa's production capacity in the secondary and tertiary industries, and promote the transformation and upgrading of China-Africa economic and trade cooperation focusing on improving Africa's internally driven growth that reduces reliance on export of raw materials. China will, as always, offer assistance and support to Africa's development with no political strings attached. Africa reaffirms its commitment to sustainable, diversified and coordinated socio-economic development to ensure mutually beneficial outcomes.

12. We call on the international community to join efforts in promoting trade and investment for development and making economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all. Faced with the current severe situation, we firmly uphold multilateralism and oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, support a WTO-centered, rules-based multilateral trading regime that is transparent, non-discriminatory, open and inclusive, and support the efforts for an open and inclusive world economy. We will work for the normal operation of the WTO dispute settlement mechanism and continue to implement the outcomes of previous ministerial meetings. We resolve to enhance cooperation within such mechanisms as the G77+China, and take concrete actions to uphold the multilateral trading regime and support development across the world.

13.1 The African leaders welcome the major measures for further opening-up announced by H.E. President Xi Jinping at the opening ceremony of the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018, and commend the concrete and targeted efforts made by China in such areas as capacity building. They believe that such measures and efforts will benefit African countries and beyond, and that China's development has brought important opportunities and impetus to an open world economy. The African leaders welcome the first China International Import Expo to be held in Shanghai in November, 2018 and would like to take an active part in it.

13.2 China commends the important outcomes of the African Union Extraordinary Summit, held in Kigali, Rwanda in March 2018, on the African Continental Free Trade Area, and welcomes the launching of the Single African Air Transport Market and the decisions supporting the free movement of people and goods. China supports early progress in developing African Continental Free Trade Area and the Single African Air Transport Market. China will strengthen cooperation with Africa in trade and investment facilitation, and step up related policy communication, information sharing and capacity building. China supports African countries in enhancing connectivity, infrastructure development and industrialization. China encourages companies from both sides to explore more ways of mutually beneficial cooperation based on the law of the market.

13.3 Africa appreciates the support that China has rendered to its railway development, particularly the related goals set forth by the AU Agenda 2063, and welcomes China as a strategic partner in its railway development. Africa welcomes more investment from China in its tourism industry and looks to further expand China-Africa aviation cooperation.

14. We welcome the G20 Initiative on Supporting Industrialization in Africa and Least Developed Countries and urge developed countries to honor their official development assistance commitments to developing countries, especially those in Africa, on time and in full, and to provide more support in terms of funding, technology and capacity building for the full implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

15. We call on all countries to respect the diversity of civilizations and stress that people-to-people and cultural exchanges are of great significance for increasing mutual understanding, friendship and cooperation between the Chinese and African peoples. We encourage further exchanges, mutual learning, and cooperation in culture, education, science, technology, sports, health, tourism, media and at sub-national levels, to further consolidate the public support for China-Africa relations.

16.1 We underscore the importance of advocating common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security. We commit ourselves to addressing disputes and differences through dialogue and consultation, making coordinated efforts to deal with both traditional and non-traditional security threats and opposing terrorism in whatever form, for whatever cause, and wherever it occurs.

16.2 China firmly supports African countries and regional organizations such as the AU in their efforts to independently resolve African problems in the African way. China supports the building of the African Standby Force and the African Capacity for the Immediate Response to Crisis, and other active measures by regional countries in countering terrorist threats. China supports predictable and sustainable UN funding for Africa's independent peace operations and the initiative to "Silence the Guns in Africa by Year 2020". In light of the need of Africa, China will continue to play a constructive role in providing good offices and mediation of African hotspot issues. We welcome closer communication and coordination between China and Africa in the UN Security Council. We will enhance coordination and cooperation on affairs related to African peace and security to uphold our common interests through the meetings and consultations between China and Africa's non-permanent members of the Security Council. We welcome closer cooperation between China and the African Union Peace and Security Council (AUPSC) through meetings and consultations, as it serves our common interests.

16.3 We note the serious challenges of displacement and migration in Africa, and the efforts by the African Union, sub-regional organizations and African countries in addressing the issues within the framework of Agenda 2063 and through other related channels. China and Africa will discuss ways to strengthen cooperation in such areas as humanitarian response, early warning, climate change, drought and desertification and disaster management and response.

17. We emphasize the importance of upholding the purposes and principles of the UN Charter and supporting the active role of the UN in international affairs. We advocate mutual respect and equal consultation, firmly reject Cold-War mentality and power politics, and embrace the new approach to state-to-state relations that favors dialogue over confrontation, partnership over alliance. We follow the principle of achieving shared benefits through consultation and collaboration in global governance, advocate multilateralism and democracy in international relations, and believe that all countries are equal, irrespective of their size, strength or wealth. We oppose interference in others' internal affairs and arbitrary use or threat of force in international affairs, and reaffirm the need to deepen mutual understanding and enhance coordination and collaboration with each other at the UN and other fora.

18. We call for necessary reforms of the UN including its Security Council to better fulfill their responsibilities prescribed in the UN Charter and enhance the UN's capacity to deal with global threats and challenges and strengthen global governance. We emphasize that the historical injustice endured by African countries should be corrected, that priority should be given to increasing the representation of African countries at the UN Security Council and other agencies, and that concerted efforts should be made to steer the reform of the international governance system toward better serving the common interests of developing countries. China will enhance communication and coordination with Africa's non-permanent members of the Security Council to jointly uphold the common interests of the two sides and developing countries as a whole. We also call for reforms of international financial institutions including the Bretton Woods institutions.

19.1 We call for the conclusion of the work program under the Paris Agreement by the 24th Session of the Conference of the Parties (COP 24) of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to jointly tackling climate change in accordance with the Marrakech Action Proclamation for Our Climate and Sustainable Development adopted at COP22 of the UNFCCC. We are determined to take environment-friendly approaches, work together to respond to climate change, protect marine biodiversity, strengthen marine research, develop blue economy, and foster a global ecosystem for green development to protect our common home for human survival and create an environment conducive to the development of small island countries. We call on developed countries to honor their commitments at an early date and to support African countries with funding, technology transfer and capacity building to deal with climate change and protect the environment.

19.2 China speaks highly of Africa's efforts in protecting wildlife, takes note of the challenges confronting Africa, and will work with Africa to fight illegal trade in wildlife and provide necessary support in this field.

20. We congratulate South Africa on successfully hosting the 10th BRICS Summit and the BRICS Outreach which is comprised of the BRICS Plus Initiative and the BRICS Leaders-Africa Outreach Dialogue Forum. The Leaders applaud the outcome documents and measures adopted at the BRICS Summit as being fruitful and laying a solid foundation for the second "Golden Decade" of BRICS Cooperation. The Summit will strengthen collaboration among countries concerned and help them benefit from the fourth industrial revolution.

21. We commend the Ministers participating in the seventh FOCAC Ministerial Conference for their dedicated efforts and outstanding work in formulating the Beijing Action Plan (2019-2021) of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in the spirit of this Declaration. With the Action Plan adopted, both sides will now work closely for its timely and full implementation.

22.1 We express gratitude to H.E. President Xi Jinping of the People's Republic of China and H.E. President Cyril Ramaphosa of the Republic of South Africa for co-chairing the 2018 Beijing Summit of FOCAC.

22.2 We express gratitude to South Africa for the contribution it has made to FOCAC's development and China-Africa relations during its co-chairmanship from 2012 to 2018.

23. We express gratitude to the government and people of the People's Republic of China for the warm hospitality and excellent facilitation during the 2018 Beijing Summit of FOCAC.

24. We welcome the Republic of Senegal as the next co-chair of FOCAC. The Eighth FOCAC Ministerial Conference will be held in the Republic of Senegal in 2021.