President Xi Meets UN Chief

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on September 2.

Calling the UN “the flag of multilateralism，” Xi said the world was more in need of multilateralism than ever before as well as of a stronger UN as the rising tide of unilateralism and protectionism is dealing a blow to the international order and the system of global governance.

Noting that China has always firmly supported multilateralism and safeguarded the UNs authority， Xi said China expects the UN to play its leading role in upholding fairness and justice， safeguarding world peace， and promoting common development.

Xi said China does not attach any political strings， nor does it seek any privilege or special interests in China-Africa cooperation. China is willing to strengthen communication and discussion with the UN on how to better support Africa.

Guterres said African affairs have always been a priority on the UN agenda.

He praised China for its commitment to supporting multilateralism， actively safeguarding the multilateral order， and improving global governance. The UN is willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with China to build a rule-based multi-polar world and encourage other countries to participate in the Belt and Road construction， he said.

China， South Africa to Lift Ties to a New Level

Chinese President Xi Jinping and South African President Cyril Ramaphosa held talks on September 2， agreeing to elevate the comprehensive strategic partnership of the two countries to a new level.

Xi noted that China and South Africa have valued sincerity， friendship， and mutual trust. He stressed that the significance of the relationship between China and South Africa has far exceeded the bilateral scope and is now of global and strategic significance.

Xi said the two countries should advance towards the direction and targets that have been established， actively implement important consensuses they have reached， make strategic plans for bilateral cooperation in the next 10 years， strengthen high-level exchanges， deepen political mutual trust， promote practical cooperation， and enhance inter-party and people-topeople exchanges.

Ramaphosa said the South Africa-China relationship has been set up on the basis of equality， mutual respect， and mutual benefit， adding that it is unfading and strategic.

“I am very happy to visit China for the first time as the president of South Africa and continue our strategic communication，” said Ramaphosa.

South Africa is willing to learn from Chinas experience in areas including ruling party building and corporate management， and will actively participate in the Belt and Road cooperation， said Ramaphosa.

Xi Meets AU Commission Chairman

Chinese President Xi Jinping on September 5 met with Moussa Faki Mahamat， chairperson of the African Union （AU） Commission after the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation（FOCAC） Beijing Summit.

Xi expressed thanks to the chairperson for making important contributions to the successful hosting of the FOCAC Beijing Summit.

Noting that the AU is a flag guiding Africas unity and selfstrengthening， Xi said China consistently supports the role of the AU in the process of African integration and supports the AU in playing a more constructive role in the development of China-Africa relations and FOCAC affairs.

In recent years， China and the AU have reaped fruitful results in cooperation and conducted stronger communication and coordination in international affairs. China is ready to enhance alignment of strategies with the AU， jointly build the Belt and Road， deepen pragmatic cooperation， expand security cooperation， and promote capability building， Xi said.

With the success of the Beijing Summit and under the leadership of President Xi， Africa-China relations have worked out the right direction and chosen the right path， Faki said.

Noting that the eight major initiatives proposed by President Xi align well with the Belt and Road Initiative， the AU chairperson said the eight initiatives will help the AU realize its 2063 Agenda and will surely promote peace and development in Africa.

The AU is ready to work with China and African members of the FOCAC to implement the consensus reached during the Beijing summit and bring benefits to both Africa and China， Faki said.

“I wish to advise people to give up the illusion that another Plaza Accord could be imposed on China. They should give up the illusion that China will ever give in to intimidation， coercion， or groundless accusation. But at the same time， China is always ready to engage in serious， substantive， and pragmatic negotiations and consultations to address economic and trade issues on the basis of mutual respect and a balanced approach to resolve the concerns of both sides. This has to be a process of goodwill for goodwill and good faith for good faith.”

On August 30， Chinese Ambassador to the United States Cui Tiankai made the remarks at the working lunch of roundtable discussion held in Washington D.C. between the Center for Strategic and International Studies and Chongyang Institute for Financial Studies， Renmin University.