FOCAC summit adds fresh impetus to China-Africa ties -- Sudanese analyst

The 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has given fresh impetus to the development of the long-standing China-Africa relationship, a Sudanese political analyst said Wednesday.

"The FOCAC summit constituted a new opportunity for enhancing the standing cooperation between Africa and China," said Al-Fateh Al-Sayed, former secretary-general of the Sudanese Journalists Union, in an interview with Xinhua.

"The two sides, via the summit's final declaration, reiterated commitment to the principle of win-win cooperation, which is a clear message and a confirmation to the principles of the historical and deeply-rooted relationship between the two sides," he noted.

Al-Sayed further reiterated the importance of the topics discussed during the summit held on Sept. 3-4, pointing to the two sides' agreement to work together to build a community of shared future for mankind and the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI).

"Africa has significant characteristics for the building of the Belt and Road Initiative. Africa will also benefit from the opportunities and resources offered by the initiative," noted Al-Sayed.

He said the FOCAC has become "an important platform" for boosting China-Africa cooperation based on mutual benefits and common interests.

The 2018 Beijing FOCAC summit concluded sessions on Tuesday with the adoption of the Beijing Declaration which stated that the two sides have agreed to strengthen collective dialogue, enhance traditional friendship, deepen practical cooperation and work together toward an even stronger China-Africa community with a shared future.

China and the African countries applaud the role the FOCAC has played over the past 18 years to promote relations. The African countries support China in hosting the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2019, according to the document.