Speech at the Launch of ChinAfrica Magazine's

Special Issuefor the Johannesburg Summit of FOCAC

Jiang Jianguo

Minister of the State Council Information Office

People's Republic of China

(December 3, 2015)

Distinguished guests,

Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends,

Good morning.

At the Johannesburg Summit of FOCAC, which will be opened tomorrow, Chinese President Xi Jinping and leaders of African countries will chart the future course for China-Africa relations under the new circumstances from holistic and strategic perspectives. As a landmark event in the history of China-Africa relations, the Summit is poised to have profound and far-reaching implications for strengthening solidarity between China and Africa, guiding our cooperation and promoting our development. In order to serve the Summit more effectively, the ChinAfrica Special Issue, in keeping with the Summit theme - Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development - elaborates on China's policy toward Africa in the new era, which features sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith. It hails the promising China-Africa cooperation by focusing on the fruitful results we have achieved in diverse areas with concerted efforts. All this aims to foster a positive public opinion for the Summit.

We are greatly honored that President Xi and South African President Jacob Zuma have sent their congratulatory messages for the Special Issue at our invitation. The messages provide strong evidence of the close attention paid by the two heads of state to the role of the Special Issue as well as their full recognition of the contributions made by Chinese and African media to the China-Africa friendship. At the same time, they give the media a new mandate to forge greater synergy for further development of China-Africa relations.

Against this backdrop, today's grand launch ceremony of the ChinAfrica Special Issue for the FOCAC Johannesburg Summit is highly relevant. On behalf of the State Council Information Office of China, I would like to take this opportunity to extend our warm congratulations on the successful holding of this ceremony and our heartfelt thanks to Chinese and African staff members and friends for their support and cooperation in the publishing and distribution of the Special Issue.

Ladies and gentlemen,

Friends,

This year marks the 15th anniversary of the founding of FOCAC. The Johannesburg Summit, the first of its kind on the African continent, will play an important role in opening up new prospects for China-Africa relations by building on previous achievements. While reviewing the experiences in developing these relations in the past 15 years, the Summit will map out plans for friendly and mutually beneficial China-Africa cooperation under the new circumstances. It will also help enhance the quality and efficiency of our cooperation and realize faster and more robust growth.

Based on its theme, "Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development," the Summit will unveil a series of major initiatives to accelerate industrialization and agricultural modernization in Africa. These initiatives aim to strengthen the alignment of Chinese and African development strategies as well as industrial capacity cooperation. They will integrate China's development with the promotion of Africa's independent and sustainable development in a bid to achieve win-win cooperation and common development. I believe the Summit will look into the future based on the past, deepen cooperation and focus on improving people's livelihoods. It will give new substance to China-Africa relations and take them to a new high.

The media constitute a crucial bond that bolsters goodwill between Chinese and African people as well as a vital bridge for cultural exchanges between us. Boosting exchanges and cooperation between Chinese and foreign media is one of the main responsibilities of the State Council Information Office. We will render full support and create favorable conditions for a variety of exchanges between Chinese and African media outlets. We will encourage them to step up pragmatic cooperation in areas such as journalism studies, personnel training, content exchanges, joint news gathering and production, and new media, and make new and greater contributions to carrying on the traditional China-Africa friendship and advancing relations between us.

To conclude, I wish the distribution of the ChinAfrica Summit Special Issue in Africa every success.

Thank you!