African leaders and experts spoke highly of Chinese President Xi Jinping’s remarks at the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity against COVID-19 on Wednesday, hailing achievements of China-Africa cooperation in fighting the pandemic.
In his remarks, Xi called on China and Africa to defeat the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) with solidarity and cooperation.
He said the two sides should work together to build a China-Africa community of health for all and take their comprehensive strategic and cooperative partnership to a greater height.
Leaders of African countries, including members of the African Union (AU) Assembly of Heads of State and Government and rotating chairs of major African sub-regional organisations, and the chairperson of the AU Commission, attended the summit held via video link.
AU chairperson and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa said: “This Extraordinary China-Africa Solidarity Summit against COVID-19 demonstrates the depth and resilience of solidarity between China and Africa.”
He said humanity is facing a grave and uncertain crisis as it confronts a virus which by its nature knows no geographic boundaries and recognises no national sovereignty.
“Sino-Africa solidarity and better multilateral cooperation is key to winning the battle against this pandemic. Through this and other platforms, let us continue to strengthen the bonds of solidarity that exist among us and take collective action to secure the future of humanity,” Ramaphosa said.
He expressed the gratitude of the African people to President Xi, the Chinese government and people for their generous donation of personal protective equipment and other medical assistance provided for Africa.
Calling the summit “an excellent initiative,” Senegalese President Macky Sall said that leaders attending the meeting have reaffirmed their aspiration to consolidate the friendship between Africa and China and to build a community with a shared future for mankind. Sall also voiced support for the role of the World Health Organisation (WHO) in coordinating the global response to the epidemic.
Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari commended the Chinese government, the United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres and the WHO for their respective actions and measures to help developing countries in Africa to tackle the pandemic.
Buhari acknowledged that China’s support had tremendously strengthened Nigeria’s effort in combating COVID-19, adding that President Xi’s strong support has further demonstrated the spirit of solidarity and enhanced the bond of partnership that already exist among the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) members. -Xinhua
