The 2018 Beijing Summit and the 7th Ministerial Conference of FOCAC was successfully held in September 2018. President Xi Jinping announced eight major initiatives in collaboration with Africa for industrial promotion, infrastructure connectivity, trade facilitation, green development, capacity building healthcare, people-to-people exchange, and peace and security, delineating the blueprint for China-Africa relations in the new era and opening an ambitious chapter in China-Africa cooperation for the new era.

  The eight major initiatives, guided by Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era and centering around building a new type of international relations and a community of shared future for mankind, following the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and of pursuing the greater good and shared interests and based on the opinions and suggestions collected in breadth and depth from all quarters in China and Africa, reflects the theme of the Beijing Summit: “China and Africa: Toward an Even Stronger Community with a Shared Future through Win-Win Cooperation”, pools the strength of the Belt and Road Initiative, UN 2030 Sustainable Development Agenda, AU Agenda 2063, and the development strategies of individual African countries, places emphasis on fostering indigenous growth capacity for Africa, create new ideas and ways of cooperation, and will bring China-Africa cooperation to new heights.

  Following is the elaboration on the eight major initiatives:

  First, China will launch an industrial promotion initiative. We have decided to open a China-Africa economic and trade expo in China; we encourage Chinese companies to increase investment in Africa, and will build and upgrade a number of economic and trade cooperation zones in Africa. We will support Africa in achieving general food security by 2030, work with Africa to formulate and implement a program of action to promote China-Africa cooperation on agricultural modernization. We will implement 50 agricultural assistance programs, provide RMB 1 billion of emergency humanitarian food assistance to African countries affected by natural disasters, send 500 senior agriculture experts to Africa, and train young researchers in agri-science and entrepreneurs in agri-business. We will support Chinese companies in Africa to forge alliance of corporate social responsibilities. We will continue to strengthen cooperation with African countries in local currency settlement and make good use of the China-Africa Development Fund, the China-Africa Fund for Industrial Cooperation and the Special Loan for the Development of African SMEs.

  Elaboration:

  Accelerating industrialization and agricultural modernization is the common aspiration of African countries to speed up economic transformation and an important path for African countries to reduce poverty and strengthen capacity for self-driven development. The UN 2030 SDG sets out to promote inclusive and sustainable industrialization, and AU Agenda 2063 clearly lays out goals and directions for Africa’s manufacturing and agricultural development, including lifting the share of manufacturing in GDP to over 50% and ensure it employs over 50% of newly-added labor force; making agriculture a modern andhighly-profitable industry; reducing the imports of food and raise intra-Africa trade in agriculture and food to 50% of total formal food and agricultural trade; eliminating hunger and food shortage. China, with a complete range of sectors and systems that span industry and agriculture, is able to offer practical technologies, equipment, and production and managerial expertise that fit Africa. The industries of the two sides can be well-matched at multiple layers and enjoy broad vistas. China will focus on and work with Africa for the industrial promotion initiative in the following areas:

  —Open a China-Africa economic and trade expo. The expo will be accompanied with seminars, presentations, business matchmaking and experience sharing events. It will be turned into a new mechanism for commercial cooperation with Africa, a new platform to deliver the trade and economic measures of FOCAC, and a new window for sub-national business cooperation with Africa. The first expo will focus on implementing the new measures of the Beijing Summit and engaging local governments and businesses of various types into the cooperation with Africa.

  —Increase investment in Africa. China will step up policy guidance, mobilize all interested parties and encourage Chines businesses to increase investment in Africa, especially in traditional and emerging areas of manufacturing, agriculture, financial service, trade and logistics, and digital economy, so as to better integrate Africa into global and regional value chain. China will continue to leverage trade and economic cooperation zones to foster industrial clusters and radiate influence. We will provide software and hardware support in the building and upgrading of the zones, and provide guidance, support and service in construction, development and business promotion for Chinese companies of various types, including private companies as they establish cooperation zones with sound economic and social benefits on a proper scale.

  —Formulate agricultural plans. China will work with the African Union and International Food Policy Research Institute to jointly release a program of action to promote China-Africa cooperation in agricultural modernization. We will share the best practices, tailor-make development models that fit Africa’s national and agricultural conditions, integrate agricultural assistance programs and improve their sustainability, and support Africa in achieving general food security by 2030.

  —Provide agricultural assistance. From 2019 to 2021, China will implement 50 agricultural assistance programs, with the focus on helping Africa increase the output of corn, rice, wheat, cassava, teff and cotton. To help some African countries tackle drought, flood, and other extreme weathers, China will continue to provide emergency humanitarian assistance in response to the needs of the countries affected, including in-kind assistance of grain and food, and emergency cash assistance.

  —Improve agricultural technologies. From 2019 to 2021, China will send 500 senior agriculture experts to Africa. Through cooperation among agriculture research institutes, agricultural technology demonstration centers, agri-tech assistance expert groups, and agriculture poverty reduction, we will help build capacity in animal husbandry, plantation, agri-production technologies and inspection of agri-products. We will disseminate useful technologies and conduct international cooperation to reinvigorate the rural areas. We will also train young researchers in agri-science and entrepreneurs in agri-business through various channels, undertake technology localization demonstration programs, spread the experiences in agri-production technology and rural economy development, so as to increase the income of local farmers.

  —Fulfill social responsibility. China encourages Chinese businesses in Africa to integrate into the local communities and localize operation. We will give full play to the role of Chines business chambers and associations in Africa to forge alliance of CSR, carry out programs for public good in clean energy, well-digging and water supply, country roads, education and sanitation, community service, and humanitarian assistance, help improve local livelihood and social development, and regularly release reports on Chinese businesses CSR for Africa.

  — Deepen financial cooperation. Financial support is a critical guarantee for China-Africa industrial cooperation. China encourages and supports deeper cooperation and improved network building between our financial institutions. We encourage Chinese financial institutions to open outlets in Africa or set up JVs with African banks. China is willing to expand the use of local currencies in investment, funding and trade, and sign currency swap agreement with interested countries. China will give better scope to the China-Africa Development Fund, the China-Africa Fund for Industrial Cooperation and the Special Loan for the Development of African SMEs, and guide them towards private companies.

  Second, an infrastructure connectivity initiative. We have decided to jointly formulate a China-Africa infrastructure cooperation plan with the African Union. We will support Chinese companies in participating in Africa’s infrastructure development by way of investment-construction-operation or through other models, with focus on enhancing cooperation on energy, transport, information, telecommunications and cross-border water resources. We will work with Africa to undertake a number of key connectivity projects. We will support Africa in developing the Single African Air Transport Market and open more direct flights between China and Africa. We will facilitate bond issuance by African countries and their financial institutions in China. On the basis of following multilateral rules and procedures, we will support African countries in making better use of financing resources of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the New Development Bank, and the Silk Road Fund.

  Elaboration:

  Africa’s backward infrastructure development and huge funding gaps are hindering its integration and sustainable development. Listing “connecting Africa through world-class infrastructure” as an important target in AU’s Agenda 2063, African countries are now channeling major efforts to improve infrastructure conditions. The Program for Infrastructure Development in Africa (PIDA) identified four major development areas: energy, transport, information and communication technology (ICT) and trans-boundary water resources. In March, 2018, AU Summit passed a resolution to launch the Single African Air Transport Market, hoping to standardize air transport and liberalize civil aviation. China has accumulated rich experience in building infrastructure and gained prominent advantages in capital, equipment and technology. China and Africa have successfully cooperated on a great number of infrastructure projects, and the China-Africa Regional Aviation Cooperation plan is well under way. Against this backdrop, China’s cooperation with Africa under the infrastructure connectivity initiative will focus on the following aspects:

  —Strengthen top-level design. China and the AU have set up a joint working group on transnational and trans-regional infrastructure cooperation in Africa to promote project cooperation. Further, China and the AU Commission will strengthen coordination and alignment and co-formulate the China-Africa infrastructure cooperation plan, which will identify key milestones, key sectors, major projects and policy support. As the guiding document for infrastructure cooperation between China and Africa, the plan will advance transnational and trans-regional cooperation projects in a coordinated way.

  — Implement key projects. China will actively support Chinese companies in undertaking a number of key projects to enhance railway, highway, port, power and telecommunication connectivity according to African countries’ development strategies and actual demand, by way of investment-construction-operation or through other models, in areas of Africa’s interests, such as energy, transport, information, telecommunications and cross-border water resources. China will support Chinese businesses in undertaking projects to provide upstream and downstream supporting services to advance whole-chain comprehensive development and operation. At the same time, China and Africa will strengthen cooperation on planning and research, personnel and technology, as well as management and operation of major projects to give full play to the leverage of assistance.

  —Deepen aviation cooperation. China stands ready to work with Africa to further expand aviation arrangements and carry out feasibility study on liberalizing China-Africa air transport. China will encourage its aviation businesses and financial institutions to participate in building the Single African Air Transport Market to support Africa in enhancing connectivity. At the same time, China supports aviation businesses from both sides in opening more direct flights according to market principles, to facilitate two-way personnel flow and trade and strengthen the bond between China and Africa.

  — Expand financing channels. According to African countries’ demand and the specific funding support needed in each project, China will use assistance, loans, investment and other types of fund in a flexible manner to provide projects with diverse financing support. China stands ready to support African countries in expanding financing channels and optimizing debt structure. China welcomes and will facilitate bond issuance by African countries and their financial institutions in China. On the basis of following multilateral rules and procedures, China will support African countries in making better use of financing resources of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank, the New Development Bank, and the Silk Road Fund to raise fund through multiple channels.

  Third, a trade facilitation initiative. We have decided to increase imports, particularly non-resource products, from Africa. We support African countries in participating in the China International Import Expo. The least developed African countries participating in it will be exempted from paying exhibition stand fees. We will continue to strengthen exchanges and cooperation on market regulation and between customs authorities, and implement 50 trade facilitation programs for Africa. We will hold, on a regular basis, marketing activities for Chinese and African brand products. We support the building of the African Continental Free Trade Area and will continue to hold free trade negotiations with interested African countries and regions. And we will set up relevant mechanisms to promote e-commerce cooperation with Africa.

  Elaboration:

  African countries are committed to enhancing trade facilitation to better leverage the role of trade in boosting economic growth and sustainable development. The AU’s Agenda 2063 puts forth the development goal of increasing the share of intra-African trade to 50% of Africa’s total trade and increasing Africa’s share of global trade to 12% by 2045. 49 AU members have signed the Agreement Establishing the African Continental Free Trade Area (CFTA). Trade is the foundation of China-Africa cooperation. China has been Africa’s biggest trading partner for nine consecutive years. Since China is taking the initiative to expand import, it welcomes African countries to expand exports to China and share dividends of its development, which, we believe, will provide broader space for China-Africa trade cooperation. Against this backdrop, China’s cooperation with Africa under the trade facilitation initiative will focus on the following aspects:

  — Expand imports from Africa. China will further increase imports, particularly non-resource products, from Africa. China supports African countries in participating in the China International Import Expo. The least developed African countries participating in it will be exempted from paying exhibition stand fees. Measurement, standards, authentication, quality inspection and quarantine are key links in trade. China stands ready to strengthen standard cooperation with African countries and negotiate cooperation agreements with African measurement authorities. China will advance work on international mutual acceptance of authentication, approval and quality assessment results of African products to guarantee product quality. China will step up and optimize quarantine access procedures for agricultural products to expand and facilitate two-way trade in agricultural products. China will move faster towards mutual acceptance with African customs authorities which have a relatively complete system of “authorized economic operator (AEO)”.

  —Provide trade-promoting assistance. China will implement 50 trade facilitation programs for Africa, including providing exhibition stand subsidies, improving trade-related infrastructure, supporting modernization of African customs and quality inspection authorities and helping Africa improve its export ability and trade integration level. China will also deepen cooperation with Africa on standard promotion, market access, personnel training, upgrade of customs merchandise inspection equipment, sanitary and phytosanitary inspection and quarantine technologies and establishing one-stop customs clearance systems as well as inspection and quarantine laboratories.

  —Strengthen brand marketing. China will hold marketing activities for Chinese and African brand products and support Chinese trade associations and businesses in holding two exhibitions of Chinese brand products every year to introduce famous Chinese brands and quality products of the light industry, home appliances, complete sets of equipment, engineering machinery and high-tech sector to the African market and consumers. China will continue to support African countries in holding various trade-promoting activities in China to present specialty products and exchange information on supply and demand to boost trade.

  —Carry out free trade cooperation. China firmly supports the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core. China and Africa will strengthen cooperation under the WTO framework and jointly promote trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. China supports the building of the African Continental Free Trade Area. China and Mauritius concluded their FTA negotiations before the Beijing Summit, making a breakthrough in China-Africa FTA cooperation. China stands ready to continue to hold FTA negotiations of a moderate level of ambition with interested African countries and regions to create an even better institutional environment for China-Africa trade and economic cooperation.

  — Strengthen e-commerce cooperation. In recent years, China’s e-commerce transaction volume has continued to expand, resulting in the largest online retail volume in the world and becoming a new driving force of economic growth. As IT and other infrastructure continues to improve, e-commerce in China has broad horizons. China will explore e-commerce cooperation mechanisms with African countries, and strengthen policy coordination, planning integration, experience sharing, joint research and personnel training. China will also encourage Chinese e-commerce enterprises to expand African markets, and use e-commerce to boost trade of each other’s quality and specialty goods.

  IV Green development actions. China decides to implement 50 green development and ecological and environmental protection assistance projects, with the focus on responding to climate change, maritime cooperation, desertification prevention, and protection of wild flora and fauna; promote the establishment of a China-Africa environmental cooperation center and strengthen exchanges and dialogues on environmental policies and joint research on environmental problems; conduct the China-Africa Green Emissary Project to train professionals in environmental protection management, pollution prevention and treatment and green economy for Africa; establish a China-Africa Bamboo Center to help Africa develop the bamboo and rattan industry; cooperate on education and public campaign for environmental protection.

  Elaboration:

  A green, low-carbon and cyclical development path will help Africa transform its growth model and realize sustainable development. African countries attach great importance to environmental protection and actively improve their environmental protection capacity. In the Draft First Ten-Year Implementation Plan for the Agenda 2063 of the African Union, environment, climate sustainable economic and social development is regarded as a key objective. China regards green development as an important concept bearing on the development of the whole nation. President Xi emphasized multiple times that protecting the environment is protecting production force, and improving the environment is improving the production force. China and Africa have shared ideas and objectives in terms of green development. Hence, China will engage in the following cooperation with Africa regarding green development:

  — Implement green projects. China will implement 50 green development and ecological and environmental protection assistance projects, with the focus on reinforcing joint research, technical exchanges and project cooperation in the following areas: responding to climate change, maritime cooperation, desertification prevention, alleviation of drought, monitoring of earthquakes, prospection of minerals, comprehensive utilization of water resources, protection of wild flora and fauna, prevention and treatment of pollution, sustainable management of forests and forestry, thus helping Africa realize the related objectives in the United Nations 2030 SDGs and the African Union Agenda 2063.

  — Reinforce environmental cooperation. China will steadily advance the China-Africa Environmental Cooperation Center, engage in policy exchanges and dialogues with African countries, promote cooperation in China-Africa environmental industry and IT exchanges, and jointly conduct environmental research projects. China will continue to implement the China-Africa Green Emissary Project to train professionals in environmental protection management, pollution prevention and treatment and green economy for Africa.

  — Establish a bamboo center. China will build a China-Africa Bamboo Center in Ethiopia to conduct research on planting and growing bamboo to better tap the values of bamboo in food, furniture, architecture, textile, paper-making and pharmaceuticals. At the same time the center will serve to distribute China’s bamboo and rattan weaving techniques, standards and management experience to help grow the industry in Africa, create more jobs and promote diversified economic growth.

  —Raise awareness of environmental protection. China will step up cooperation with Africa in pollution prevention and treatment, and public campaign and planning for environmental protection, to help raise the awareness of local peoples and help them develop greener habits. China will explore projects such as waste power generation and “toilet revolution”, and build affordable housing to improve people’s living conditions.

  V Capacity building activities. China decides to strengthen exchanges of development experience with Africa and support cooperation in economic and social development; establish ten Luban Workshops to provide technical training to the youth; support the establishment of a China-Africa Innovation Center that aims to promote innovation and entrepreneurship of the youth; implement the Head Goose project to train 1,000 elites for Africa; provide 50 thousand government scholarships and 50 thousand training opportunities to Africa and invite 2,000 young Africans to come to China for exchanges.

  Elaboration:

  Currently, Africa has 1.3 billion people, 40% of whom are below 15 years old, and 70% are below 30. Africa is in the early stages of bringing out its population potential, and it is urgently needed to enhance the labor skills of the youth, increase effective employment, turn population potential into real force of development, and promote social stability and economic growth of African states and society. The Agenda 2063 supports the youth to become the driving force of African rejuvenation, and aims to give 70% of the youth a skill and train thousands of young leaders for Africa by 2025. China has actively helped African countries train talents, strengthened human resources development and cooperation, provided a large quantity of government scholarships and training opportunities, and played an active role in improving the capability of independent development of African countries. Hence, China will undertake the following regarding capacity building:

  —Share development experience. China and African countries are all developing countries, facing similar development tasks in economic and social development and poverty alleviation. China will share governance experience with African countries, synergize development ideas and strategies, increase mutual understanding and learning and better realize common development. China will compile development plans by region, sub-region, country or sector for African countries on demand, to boost their long-term planning capacity and make China-Africa cooperation more sustainable and forward-looking.

  — Establish Luban Workshops. China will coordinate resources from the government, enterprises, social organizations and universities to upgrade ten vocational centers or schools in Africa, and provide support in terms of equipment, technical guidance, teaching resources and training projects, to provide aimed basic vocational training assistance to African countries and help them train more talents in need.

  -- Implement Head Goose project. China will share development ideas and experience with African countries without reserve, providing more options to allow them to independently choose their path of development. From 2019-2021, China will strengthen cooperation in high-end human resource development with Africa through the South-South Cooperation and Development Institute based on the real needs of African countries to help train 1,000 elites in all areas and create a pool of talents for them to modernize their state governance systems and governance capacity.

  —Train talents. China will coordinate resources to further deepen cooperation with African countries in human resource development, the focus being to train senior staff in all sectors, such as government officials, party cadres, experts and scholars and technicians. From 2019-2021, China will provide 50 thousand training opportunities and 50 thousand scholarships to African countries. China will also invite 2,000 young Africans to come for discussions and exchanges, continue to send young volunteers to African countries to strengthen the friendship and understanding between the youth in China and in Africa.

  —Support innovation and entrepreneurship. The new round of technological revolution and industrial revolution is in the pipeline, with all countries actively strengthening deployment for innovation. China will actively strengthen cooperation with Africa in innovation and entrepreneurship, establish the China-Africa Innovation Cooperation Center, construct a China-Africa Technology transfer network, conduct training, demonstration and transfer of applicable advanced technologies for Africa, implement the International Youth Innovation and Entrepreneurship Project, and hold China-Africa Innovation and Entrepreneurship Contest under the framework of China-Africa Technological Partnership Plan 2.0, so as to promote technological exchanges and cooperation in innovation and entrepreneurship.

  Sixth, health care initiative. China has decided to upgrade 50 medical and health aid programs for Africa, particularly flagship projects such as the headquarters of the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention and China-Africa Friendship hospitals. Exchange and information cooperation will be carried out on public health. Cooperation programs will be launched on the prevention and control of emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases, schistosomiasis, HIV/AIDS and malaria. China will train more medical specialists for Africa and continue to send medical teams that better meet Africa’s needs. More mobile medical services will be provided to patients for the treatment of cataract, heart disease and dental defects. Targeted health care services will be provided to women and children and other vulnerable groups in Africa.

  Elaboration:

  Health is a prerequisite for all-around development of human beings. Healthy people are the basis for a country to improve its comprehensive national strengths and sustainable development abilities. The UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development specified “ensuring healthy lives and promoting well-being for all at all ages”. The African Union’s Agenda 2063 identified the following key development targets: ridding Africa of tropical diseases, fully bringing all infectious diseases under control and Africans enjoying a life expectancy of above 75 years. Identifying universal health coverage as a strategic priority, China is actively participating in global health governance and helping many developing countries to achieve such coverage as well. China and Africa have conducted extensive cooperation on public health, including dispatching medical team workers, offering medical supplies, building friendship hospitals and offering short-term mobile medical services, creating a sound basis for cooperation. In view of these, under the health care initiative, China will focus its cooperation with Africa in the following areas:

  — Assist Africa in building centers for disease control and prevention. China will continue to build African centers for disease control and prevention. China will help build the headquarters of the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention, speed up the design of headquarter buildings and start construction as early as possible. China will also send experts to the headquarters of the African Center for Disease Control and Prevention, regional cooperation centers and key African countries for technical exchanges, joint studies and personnel training, in order to offer more support to African public health and disease prevention and control system and capacity building.

  — Upgrade friendship hospitals. China has already assisted Sierra Leone, Guinea and other countries in building a number of China-Africa friendship hospitals, helping Africa improve its medical conditions. China will upgrade the medical facilities of relevant hospitals and encourage the large “Grade III, Level A” hospitals in China to cooperate with Africa. China will dispatch management and medical teams in their entirety and cooperate to build specialized departments, dispatch doctors, train doctors and nurses, provide equipment, promote traditional Chinese medicine and operate and manage hospitals, so as to build comprehensive medical and health care facilities integrating medical care, teaching, research and prevention and develop China-Africa friendship hospitals into high-level medical institutions in Africa.

  —Strengthen health cooperation. China will launch China-Africa programs on emerging and re-emerging communicable diseases, malaria and schistosomiasis, and assistance plans for regional cooperation centers. China will also support infectious disease monitoring and lab capacity building and launch publicity campaigns on AIDS prevention and treatment in Africa. China will cooperate with relevant international organizations to help Africa build adaptive public health systems. China will train 100 neurosurgeons, cardiologists, gynecologists, pediatricians and other specialists for Africa.

  —Free clinics and mobile medical services. Mobile medical services for the treatment of cataract and heart disease are a highlight of China-Africa health cooperation. Highly welcomed and widely praised by Africa, such services have benefited a large number of Africans. On this basis, China will further communicate and cooperate with African hospitals to offer more free clinics and build more brands for China’s health assistance to Africa. More mobile medical services will be provided by medical teams to African peoples so that they can enjoy better and more targeted specialized medical services.

  —Help women and children. Africa prioritizes offering better lives to women, children and other vulnerable groups. The Agenda 2063 of the African Union is committed to completely eliminating underweight children and improving women’s participation in economic sectors. China will mobilize the resources of departments, localities, companies and social organizations and discuss international cooperation to assist capacity building for women and healthy growth for children in Africa. Targeted health care services will be provided to women and children, people with disabilities, refugees and vulnerable groups. A number of China-Africa cooperation projects promoting the health of women and children under the Assistance Fund for South-South Cooperation will provide job skills training to women and provide materials and equipment.

  Seventh, people-to-people exchange initiative. China decided to establish an institute of African studies to enhance exchanges with Africa on civilization. The China-Africa Joint Research and Exchange Plan will be upgraded. Fifty joint cultural, sports and tourism events will be organized. China welcomes Africa’s participation in the Silk Road International League of Theaters, the Silk Road International Museum Alliance and the Network of Silk Road Art Festivals. A China-Africa media cooperation network will be established. More African culture centers will be opened in China and more Chinese culture centers in Africa. Qualified African educational institutes are welcome to host Confucius Institutes. More African countries are welcome to become destinations for Chinese tour groups.

  Elaboration:

  Africa is one of the cradles of human civilizations. As one of the seven aspirations in the Agenda 2063, the African Union proposed the development of “an Africa with a strong cultural identity, common heritage, shared values and ethics” to increase the contribution of the cultural sector to African GDP growth and world civilization. “Friendship, which derives from close contact between the people, holds the key to sound state-to-state relations.” The people-to-people exchanges between China and Africa is long-standing and well-established. Highly committed to strengthening mutual understanding, China actively supports and facilitates exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa research institutions, think tanks, cultural organizations, media and nongovernmental organizations. In view of these, under the people-to-people exchange initiative, China will focus its cooperation with Africa in the following areas:

  —Establish research institutes. China will establish an institute of African studies to conduct exchanges with Africa on the humanities and social sciences and development experience and to carry out in-depth studies of 40 years of China’s reform and opening up, development paths for developing countries, jointly developing the Belt and Road by China and Africa and other frontier issues. China will regularly host seminars, publish academic reports, organize mutual visits for scholars and jointly launch the China-Africa Journal and other research journals with Africa. In the next three years, fifty China-Africa joint special research projects will be funded. African think tanks are encouraged to do research on China. The brand of “China-Africa Think Tank Forum” will be further developed and the China-Africa Think Tank Cooperation Network built to enhance China-Africa joint research and academic exchange mechanism.

  —Conduct cultural and sports projects. China developed a large number of stadiums, gymnasiums, radio and TV centers, Confucius Institutes, cultural, art and tourism facilities and other projects in Africa, playing a major role developing culture and sports in African countries, inheriting and developing traditional culture and enriching people’s cultural life. By mobilizing foreign assistance and other types of resources, China will organize fifty joint cultural, sports and tourism events to further strengthen China-Africa cultural exchanges and cooperation.

  —Strengthen cultural exchanges. China welcomes African cultural organization’s participation in the Silk Road International League of Theaters, the Silk Road International Museum Alliance and the Network of Silk Road Art Festivals under the Belt and Road Framework and will support the development of African theaters, museums and art festivals under such frameworks. While hosting international art festivals in China and Africa, we will send more cultural and art troupes for mutual visits and organize “Happy Chinese New Year”, “Chinese/African Cultures in Focus” and other brand activities based on such festivals. China will continue to encourage more African culture centers in China and more Chinese culture centers in Africa, building a regular platform for the sustainable development of China-Africa cultural exchanges and cooperation. African cultural companies, institutions and professionals are welcome to China for all kinds of Cultural Industry Fairs.

  —Deepen media cooperation. China will organize more exchanges and mutual visits between Chinese and African media professionals and deepen cooperation with influential African media. A China-Africa media cooperation network will be established on the basis of China-Africa News Exchange Center.

  —Advance Chinese teaching. China will continue to support the development of existing Confucius Institutes and Classrooms and assist in designing syllabus for Chinese courses, compiling local Chinese textbooks and training local Chinese teachers. China supports more African countries in building Confucius Institutes and Classrooms. China will continue to support Chinese teaching in African countries by dispatching Chinese teachers and volunteers, offering scholarships, organizing Summer Camps in China and donating textbooks and cultural reading materials.

  —Increase people-to-people exchanges. China will further expand China-Africa tourism cooperation and expand two-way tourism exchanges. Qualified African countries are welcome to apply for destinations for Chinese overseas tour groups. China will continue to invite African countries to China for tourism exhibitions and festival celebrations. Local governments and tourism companies in China and Africa are encouraged to carry out more dialogues, cooperation and personnel exchanges and expand mutual investment.

  Eighth, we will launch a peace and security initiative. China decided to set up a China-Africa peace and security fund to boost our cooperation on peace, security, peacekeeping, and law and order. China will continue to provide military aid to the AU, and will support countries in the Sahel region and those bordering the Gulf of Aden and the Gulf of Guinea in upholding security and combating terrorism in their regions. A China-Africa peace and security forum will be established as a platform for conducting more exchanges in this area. Fifty security assistance programs will be launched to advance China-Africa cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, and in areas of law and order, UN peacekeeping missions, fighting piracy and combating terrorism.

  Elaboration:

  As peace is essential to development, African countries are always committed to holding regional peace and stability. The AU Agenda 2063 proposed to beef up the architecture for peace and security in Africa in order to realize the objective of “ending all wars in Africa by 2020”. In the peace and security initiative, in light of actual needs of Africa, China will continue to step up cooperation with Africa on counter-terrorism, peace and security, and assist Africa in maintaining peace and security as well as in building social harmony.

  —Establishment of a China-Africa peace and security forum. The China-Africa peace and security forum will invite government officials and academics from China and African countries as well as representatives from African regional and sub-regional organizations to further align their thinking on peace and security, step up exchanges of their experience in defense and counter-terrorism, and improve China-Africa dialogue and consultation mechanism on peace and security.

  —Capacity enhancement in peacekeeping. China will continue to provide free military aid to the AU and support “solving African issues in the African way by Africans”. China will continue to provide assistance as its capacity permits to African countries and regional organizations through bilateral and multilateral channels. China will support Africa in its independent peacekeeping missions, and provide military training opportunities to Africa in order to help African countries enhance their capacity in defense, counter-terrorism, peacekeeping and maintenance of peace.

  —More input in peace and security. China will work together with African countries in implementing the fifty security assistance programs in the Belt and Road Initiative, law and order, border security, military training, UN peacekeeping missions, enforcement security and cyber security as well as fighting piracy, terrorism, cross-border organized crimes and drug trafficking. This will build capacity in African countries for peace and security, safeguard security of trade routes between China and Africa, and extend the Belt and Road Initiative to Africa.

  To make sure that these eight initiatives are implemented on the ground, China will extend US$ 60 billion of financing to Africa in the form of government assistance as well as investment and financing by financial institutions and companies. This will include US$ 15 billion of grants, interest-free loans and concessional loans, US$ 20 billion of credit lines, the setting up of a US$ 10 billion of special fund for development financing and a US$ 5 billion special fund for financing imports from Africa. We encourage Chinese companies to make at least US$ 10 billion of investment in in Africa in the next three years. In addition, for those of Africa’s least developed countries, heavily indebted and poor countries, landlocked developing countries that have diplomatic relations with China, the debt they have incurred in the form of interest-free Chinese government loans due to mature by the end of 2018 will be exempted.

  — Grants, interest-free loans and concessional loans. African countries remain under great pressure for economic and social development and improving people’s livelihoods. China will provide US$ 15 billion in grants, interest-free loans and concessional loans with a focus on Africa’s poverty reduction, health, agriculture and environment, among other livelihood programs and infrastructure and production projects with fairly good economic and social benefits. With reference to their actual needs, African countries can set priorities and draw up project lists accordingly for related areas and, through close communication and full coordination with Chinese embassies and commercial sections, propose project requests and strengthen cooperation with the Chinese side throughout the process of project debate, feasibility studies, exchange of notes, agreement signing, and project execution, to ensure early implementation of the projects and benefits for the people.

  —Credit lines. China will extend to Africa a total of US$ 20 billion in preferential export buyer’s credit and other credit lines to support Africa’s major infrastructure development and help African countries improve infrastructure condition and create more social and economic benefits. African countries can file credit applications based on their development strategies and actual development needs, China-Africa cooperation plans for various areas, and their economic and debt capacity. Under the principle of soundness and practicality, China will assess proposed projects on their specifics and agree with African countries on the kind and amount of the loans through consultations.

  Following the custom of China-Africa cooperation, no country-specific quotas or time-limits are set for related loans in the financing above. Coordinated arrangements will be made based on the needs of individual projects.

  —China-Africa special fund for development finance. In order to promote pragmatic trade and economic cooperation between China and Africa, China Development Bank will establish a US$10-billion China-Africa special fund for development finance to focus on supporting cooperation projects in infrastructure and production capacity cooperation. With market-based operation, this fund will not set quotas for specific countries and industries. Projects will be processed once their conditions are ripe. The main formats include company loans, investment, project financing, special loans for the development of African SMEs and so on.

  —Special fund for financing imports from Africa. In order to enable Africa to better benefit from China’s reform and opening-up results, and let the peoples of China and Africa enjoy the welfare of our trade dealings, the Export-Import Bank of China will establish a US$5-billion special fund for financing imports from Africa, focusing on supporting the expansion of quality African goods to China, improving Africa’s export processing capabilities, promoting the development of relevant supporting industries, assisting African countries to earn foreign revenue, and beefing up their ability to pay off their debts.

  —Debt cancellation for some of the African countries. For those of Africa’s least developed countries, heavily indebted and poor countries, landlocked developing countries and small island developing countries that have diplomatic relations with China, the debt they have incurred in the form of interest-free Chinese government loans due to mature by the end of 2018 will be exempted.

  Going forward, China and African countries will continue to strengthen the institutional development for the follow-up actions based on the FOCAC platform; while at the same time giving further play to the central role of such China-Africa intergovernmental cooperation mechanisms as trade and economic joint commissions, high-level steering committees and joint working groups in implementing the “Eight Major Initiatives”. China will strengthen coordination and cooperation with Africa to make haste to formulate the implementation plan, determine the list of cooperation initiatives, and implement these initiatives so that their fruition could benefit the peoples of China and Africa at an early date, and help elevate China-Africa trade and economic cooperation to a new high, thus adding new substance to the comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Africa, injecting new impetus into building a closer community with a shared future for China and Africa, and making new contribution to building of a new type of international relations and a community with a share future for mankind.