Chinese President Xi Jinping has reaffirmed China’s commitment to assisting the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC) in unlocking the full potential of its rich natural resources. Speaking at a meeting with DRC President Felix-Antoine Tshisekedi Tshilombo in Beijing, Xi emphasized the deepening strategic cooperative partnership between the two nations.
The leaders convened during the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), where Xi highlighted the significant progress made since May of last year when both countries agreed to elevate their partnership. \"Many of the consensuses we reached at that time have been implemented,\" Xi stated, underscoring the tangible outcomes of their collaboration.
Xi assured President Tshisekedi that China remains dedicated to supporting the DRC in safeguarding its national sovereignty and pursuing independent development. The scope of cooperation includes key areas such as agriculture, mineral processing, vocational training, and more, aimed at fostering sustainable growth and economic resilience in the DRC.
In response, President Tshisekedi lauded the \"strong and sincere\" friendship between the DRC and China. He highlighted that their bilateral cooperation is founded on equality, mutual respect, and a high degree of trust, resulting in mutual benefits and win-win outcomes.
The upcoming FOCAC summit is anticipated to be a pivotal event for African nations to advance their development objectives. Following previous summits in Beijing and Johannesburg, the 2024 meeting is set to be the largest diplomatic gathering hosted by China in recent years, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
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Xi Jinping vows to assist DRC in realizing natural resource potential
cgtn.com
