TRUE FRIENDS ARE THE MOST VALUABLE

During the late Zimbabwean President Robert Gabriel Mugabe's trip to China in 2014, Xi received him with the highest diplomatic protocol of China.

At the welcome ceremony held outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Xi lent his arm to support Mugabe, who was already in his 90s, to step off the viewing platform to review the guard of honor.

When dealing with Africa, the Chinese leader emphasizes the importance of sincerity. Actions follow his words.

The last time the FOCAC summit was held, in Beijing in 2018, Xi, despite a tight schedule as host, managed to meet one-on-one with each visiting African leader. Since 2013, Xi has made five visits to Africa, traveling to Tanzania, South Africa, the Republic of Congo, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Senegal, Rwanda and Mauritius. Since 2023, he has hosted at least 20 African leaders in China.

"China attaches importance to growing friendly relations with all countries in Africa irrespective of their size, strength or wealth. And China treats all African countries as equals and actively develops win-win practical cooperation with them regardless of their resource endowment," Xi once said.

He believes that Africa belongs to the African people and that African affairs should be decided by the African people.

That's why Xi has proposed a "'five-no' approach" in China's relations with Africa: no interference in African countries' pursuit of development paths that fit their national conditions; no interference in African countries' internal affairs; no imposition of China's will on African countries; no attachment of political strings to assistance to Africa; and no seeking of selfish political gains in investment and financing cooperation with Africa.

Late Chadian President Idriss Deby Itno once said that China-Africa relations are based on equality. "China never acts as a know-it-all, never preaches to us. This is very important for Africa."