A Year of Great Strides

Review of China-Africa relations in 2022 and prospects for 2023.THE year 2022 was the first year of implementing the outcomes of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC)held in November 2021 in Dakar,Senegal,which adopted four outcome documents,namely the Dakar Declaration,the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035,the Declaration on China-Africa Cooperation on Combating Climate Change,and the Dakar Action Plan(2022-2024).

A Year of Great Strides

Review of China-Africa relations in 2022 and prospects for 2023 The year 2022 was the first year of implementing the outcomes of the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC)held in November 2021 in Dakar,Senegal,which adopted four outcome documents,namely the Dakar Declaration,the China-Africa Cooperation Vision 2035。

CHINA AND AFRICA JOINTLY CONSTRUCT BELT AND ROAD:PROGRESS,RISKS AND PROSPECTS

Africa is both a historical and nat- ural extension and an important ,participating party of the Belt and Road Initiative. The 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation （FOCAC） emphasized on supporting African countries in participating in joint construction of the Belt and Road and avowing to strengthen all round interfacing with Africa, which received enthusiastically responses from African countries. It attracts the world＇s attention for China and Africa to build the Belt and Road together.

China-Africa Cooperation in Poverty Reduction: Evolution of Concepts and Characteristics of Practices

China’s achievements in poverty reduction have provided precious experience for African countries, who are eager to integrate the Chinese experience into their own development practices. China should go beyond mere material considerations, respond to the aspirations of African countries, and further the collaborative efforts of poverty reduction to build a China-Africa community with a shared future.

China-Africa Joint Industrial Parks: History, Challenges and Solutions

China-Africa cooperation on industrial parks has entered a period of rapid progress, which provides unprecedented opportunities for economic development of both sides. In the face of challenges like investment security and homogenous competition, the Chinese government and the firms concerned should plan proactively and respond appropriately, to push the industrial park cooperation to a higher level.

China-Africa Cooperation in Full Swing

IN 2016,the year after the Johannesburg Summit and the 6th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC),the Chinese government made considerable headway in its implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative.That year also saw comprehensive expansion and enhancement of China-Africa relations,expedited through

Middle East Security Issues and Security Governance

Middle East security has become a prominent global issue which is constantly exacerbating the uncertainty of the region and the world. Establishing a stable and valid security governance system is imperative for the region, but is bound to be a long and arduous process through internal and external coordination and appropriate strategies.

CHINA'S DEVELOPMENT ACHIEVEMENTS IN FOUR DECADES OF REFORM AND OPENING-UP AND THEIR WORLD EFFECTS

The year of 2018 marks the 40 th anniversary of China's reform and opening-up. Over the past forty years, China's rapid economic development has astounded the world. Not only has the economic development miracle changed the track of China's own development, it also carries profound and far-reaching effects on world economic development at large.

BELT AND ROAD INITIATIVE AND CHINA-AFRICA COOPERATION: TOWARDS TARGETED ALIGNMENT AND HIGH-QUALITY DEVELOPMENT

The Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC)held in September 2018 has opened a new chapter for the Belt and Road Initiative to boost the development of Africa in a targeted manner.The Summit adopted the Beijing Declaration Toward an Even Stronger China-Africa Community with a Shared Future and the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan(2019-2021).These two documents point China and Africa in the right direction for developing their relations.During the Summit,the African Union as well as 28 African countries signed with China the intergovernmental memorandum of understanding on jointly advancing the Belt and Road Initiative.

FORGING A CLOSER CHINA-AFRICA COMMUNITY WITH A SHARED FUTURE THROUGH JOINT FIGHTS AGAINST THE COVID-19

The COVID-19 pandemic that has been ravaging the world in 2020 poses a centenary test for the global public health system and international cooperation in non-traditional security.In this war without gunpowder smoke against the pandemic,China and African countries stand in solidarity with mutual assistance,writing a new chapter of friendship in trying times.But as China and Africa join hands in the fight against the pandemic,difficulties and challenges emerge,calling for full cooperation in building a community of health,revitalizing the economy and forging a“public opinion field”conducive to China-Africa friendly cooperation in the post COVID-19 era.

FORUM MECHANISM FACILITATING TRANSFORMATION AND UPGRADING OF CHINA-AFRICA COOPERATION

2018 is the ＂forum year＂ for China-Arica cooperation. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation （hereinafter referred to as the forum） is a plat-form for collective dialogue and mechanism of practical cooperation jointly created by China and African countries at the turn of the century, with the aim of establishing a new type of China-Africa strategic partnership for long-term stability and mutual benefits in the 21st century The Chinese government＇s promotion of the strategic importance of relations with Africa is due to a variety of factors, the most important of which is the change in demand for Africa triggered by the sustained and rapid growth of China＇s economy against the backdrop of globalization. Thanks to the effective operation of the forum mechanism, China-Africa relations have shown a good trend of comprehensive and rapid development.

Capacity to Do More

The Central Economic Work Conference signals that China will further strengthen cooperation in production capacity with African countries.

2018 Year of Africa

For China,2018 is regarded as the "year of Mrica." The year witnessed frequent high-level exchange visits and,importantly,the opening of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)in September.In the first half of 2018 alone,Chinese Foreign Minister Warig Yi,Chinese President Xi Jinping's special representative Yang Jiechi,Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC) Li Zhanshu,and Chairman of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC)Wang Yang all visited Africa.On July 21-28,2018, President Xi visited Senegal,Rwanda,South Africa and Mauritius,his fourth Mrica visit after he was elected Chinese president in 2013.This shows that he attaches great importance to China-Africa relations.

Unifying Markets

An agreement signed in Kigali, capital of Rwanda, has caught the world＇s attention. On March 21, a total of 44 African countries agreed to establish the African Continental Free Trade Area （AfCFTA）, aimed at creat ing a single continental market for goods and services with free movement of busi nesses and investments. The agreement, signed at the 10th Extraordinary Session of the Assembly of the African Union （AU）, wlll be submitted for ratification by state parties in accordance with their domestic laws.

China-Africa Cooperation After the Johannesburg Summit

The First Ministerial Conference of Forum on China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC)was held in Beijing on October 10th 2000.The FOCAC Summit has been held every three years since then.On December 4th and 5th 2015,The Summit was held in Johannesburg of South Africa,the first one held on the African Continent.As

Unchangeable Commitment

On January 7-13,C hinese State Councilor and Foreign M inister Wang Yi paid official visits to five African countries,the first overseas trip of the minister in 2020,marking the 30th consecutive year since 1991 that a Chinese foreign minister has visited Africa at the start of every year.

Broad Prospect

Looking back at 2019,it was a fruitful year for Sino-African relations,but the highlight was the implementation of the Eight Major Initiatives announced at the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation(FOCAC).In the year,the Second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation was held in Bering in April and China celebrated the 70th anniversary of the founding of the People's Republic of China in Octobe匚African countries sent warm congratulations to China.The year also witnessed further progress in promoting China-Africa cooperation and new features in people-to-people exchanges.

A New Milestone

The African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA) agreement took effect on May 30. It is expected that the free trade area will be officially launched on July 7. As of the end of May, 52 out of the 55 African Union (AU) members have signed the agreement, except for Nigeria, Eritrea and Benin. According to the AU, when all of its 55 members sign up, the AfCFTA will be the world s largest free trade area in terms of membership since the founding of the World Trade Organization, and will be a huge market covering 1.2 billion people and a collective GDP of $2.5 trillion.

Rekindling Compassion

Nelson Mandela＇s spirit and ideals brought a common treasure to mankind

Pragmatically Aligned

The relationship between China and South Africa will enter into an unprecedented year of development starting the first day of 2018 when the two countries celebrate the 20th anni versary of diplomatic ties. South Africa. as Africa＇s largest economy, not only success- fully hosted the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation （FOCAC） in December 2015, but also has actively aligned itself with the Belt and Road Initiative. Moreover,