Fighting COVID-19 "top priority" in China-Africa cooperation: FM

BEIJING -- Helping African countries contain the COVID-19 pandemic and bring their economy back on track is the top priority of the China-Africa cooperation, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Sunday.

China has started to provide COVID-19 vaccines to 35 African countries and the African Union Commission, and has provided close to 120 batches of emergency supplies to Africa and sent medical expert teams to 15 African countries to support their fight against the pandemic, Wang told a press conference.

He said a new session of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), scheduled later this year in Senegal, will offer new opportunities to help Africa triumph over COVID-19 and strengthen their public health governance capacity.

China will also use the FOCAC to support the Africa's industrialization, integration, and participation in the economic globalization, as well as safeguard peace and stability on the continent, Wang said.

The foreign minister hailed the China-Africa cooperation as a model of South-South cooperation and a fine example of international cooperation with Africa, as two-way trade increased 20 times and China's direct investment in Africa grew 100 times over the past 20 years.

"China and Africa are perpetual good friends and good partners with a shared future," Wang said.