On March 28, 2013, during the breakfast meeting with the leaders of African countries in Durban, South Africa, President Xi Jinping had an in-depth exchange of views with the African leaders on China-Africa relations and the situation in Africa and elaborated on China's policy views towards Africa.
The breakfast meeting was attended by President of South Africa Jacob Zuma, President of Angola Jose Eduardo dos Santos, President of Cote d'Ivoire Alassane Ouattara, President of Benin Thomas Yayi Boni, President of Mozambique Armando Emilio Guebuza, President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni, President of Equatorial Guinea Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo, President of Guinea Alpha Condé, President of Chad Idriss Déby, Prime Minister of Ethiopia Hailemariam Desalegn, Speaker of Algeria's National Assembly Abdul Qadir bin Saleh, and Chairperson of the African Union Commission Nkosazana C. Dlamini Zuma.
Xi said, "Taking the opportunity of African leaders participating in the dialogue between the leaders of African countries and the leaders of the BRICS countries in South Africa, I'm happy to meet you here at the breakfast meeting and hear your observations and insights on the development of China-Africa relations."
African leaders spoke actively. They all hailed the traditional friendship with China. They said, looking into the future, Africa is a continent of hope. To achieve sustainable development, Africa must tap potentials, develop agriculture, break infrastructure bottlenecks, promote the diversification of industry and trade structure, and achieve industrialization and integration. Africa-China cooperation is built on the basis of mutual trust, mutual benefits, win-win results, and non-interference in each other's internal affairs. China's investment and assistance has greatly promoted the economic and social development of African countries and is welcomed by the African people. Facts have proved that China is a reliable friend and partner of Africa. The claims that China is engaging in "neo-colonialism" in Africa are groundless. African countries want to learn from the successful experience of China's development and strengthen Africa-China cooperation. Africa hopes that China will continue to speak up for Africa in the international arena. African countries will continue to firmly support China. They also expressed the belief that China will play a greater constructive role in the peace and prosperity in Africa. Africa-China relations will continue to be a model of cooperation for developing countries.
After listening to the views expressed the African leaders, President Xi delivered an important speech. He said peace and development in Africa is in a new and critical phase. The African economy is prospering, Africa is taking new steps forward in seeking development through unity, and Africa's international status is growing. In the meanwhile, Africa still faces many challenges in seeking peace, pursuing stability and promoting development. Xi expressed the belief that Africa is bound to usher in a brighter future as long as Africa can maintain peace and stability and find the path of development suited to their own actual conditions.
Xi pointed out that China and Africa are linked together by a common destiny. History has repeatedly proved that when China develops well, Africa can develop smoothly; when Africa develops smoothly, China can develop better. At present, the international situation is undergoing profound and complex changes. China-Africa relations are facing not only unprecedented opportunities, but also the tests of many new situations and new problems. No matter how the international situation changes, China will firmly adhere to the policy of staying friendly to Africa, always be a reliable friend and sincere partner of African countries, and strive to make greater contributions to peace and development in Africa.
First, China will always be a steadfast defender of peace and stability in Africa. China firmly supports African countries to solve the regional issues on its own. China will actively participate in the mediation and settlement of hotspot issues in Africa. China encourages African countries to solve the problems through dialogue and consultation.
Second, China will always be a firm promoter of the prosperity and development in Africa. The Chinese government will take active measures to encourage Chinese enterprises to expand investment in Africa and continue to ask the Chinese enterprises to actively fulfill their social responsibilities.
Third, China will always be a staunch supporter of African unity. China is willing to deepen cooperation with the AU, sub-regional organizations in Africa, and New Partnership for Africa's Development to promote the African integration process.
Fourth, China will always be a firm supporter to promote Africa's equal participation in international affairs. China calls on the international community to play a constructive role for peace and development in Africa.
Xi Jinping finally stressed that there is no perfect tense only continuous tense for the development of China-Africa relations. China is ready to work together with African countries to bring China-Africa relations to higher levels and into wider areas.
The breakfast meeting, filled with the strong atmosphere of China-Africa friendship, was conducted in a friendly and warm manner.
Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi were present at the above activities.
On the afternoon of March 27 local time, Xi's wife Peng Liyuan, accompanied by South African President Jacob Zuma's wife Bongi Ngema, visited a local music school in Durban. Peng visited the piano classroom and the clarinet classroom in the school. She enjoyed the classical music as well as Zulu songs with distinctive ethnic features performed by the teachers and students and the local youth band and communicated with the teachers and students on music education. This school was established to teach music skills to people with disabilities and help them integrate into the society. There are 400 students at the school.
On the morning of March 28, Peng Liyuan, accompanied by President Zuma's wife Bongi Ngema, visited a Zulu cultural village about 35 kilometers away from Durban. She visited the dome thatched cottage with unique Zulu features to know more about Zulu culture and customs. Local artists performed unique Zulu traditional dance to welcome the Chinese guests. Zulu has a population of about 10 million and is the largest black population in South Africa.