On 17 February 2024, President Xi Jinping called to congratulate the convening of the 37th African Union Summit.

Xi pointed out that the world is undergoing a major change that has not been seen in a century, and the “global South” represented by China and Africa is booming, which has profoundly affected the course of world history. The AU has united African countries to strengthen themselves and vigorously push forward integration and the construction of the Free Trade Area (FTA). The successful participation of the AU in the Group of Twenty (G-20) has further enhanced Africa’s representation and voice in global governance. China expresses its heartfelt congratulations on this.

Xi stressed that over the past year, China-Africa relations have continued to develop in depth, and with the successful convening of the China-Africa Leaders’ Dialogue, the two sides have decided to support each other in exploring their respective paths to modernisation and jointly create a favourable environment for the realisation of their development visions.A new session of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will be convened in 2024, and China is willing to work together with the leaders of African countries, with a view to benefiting the people of both sides, and meticulously plan a new blueprint for China-Africa cooperation, to promote the building of a high-level community of destiny.