Mr. Chairman,

The Chinese side is appalled by and strongly condemns the truck bomb attack in Mogadishu, the capital of Somali and the heavy casualties caused by it. The Chinese side is firmly opposed to all forms of terrorism and will continue steadfastly supporting Somali's efforts to combat terrorism and maintain national security and stability.

2017 is an important year in the comprehensive implementation of the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. It is therefore of great significance that this Africa Week has selected the theme: “Supporting an Integrated, Prosperous, People-centred and Peaceful Africa: Towards the Implementation of Agenda 2063 and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development”. The international community should increase attention and input to Africa and boost the all-round economic and social development of the African countries.

First, strengthen Africa’s capacity for self-development. The international community should, in the context of implementing the 2030 Agenda and Agenda 2063, promote Africa’s agricultural modernization, industrialization, and infrastructure building in energy and transportation, foster Africa’s capacity for self-development. We must respect the ownership and wish of the African countries and support them in formulating national development strategies based on their specific situations.

Second, improve the external environment for Africa’s development. The international community should act on the strategic imperative of promoting peace and development in Africa and realizing global stability and prosperity to speed up the development of Africa. We need to be guided by the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and benefit sharing to increase the representation and voice of developing countries in global economic governance， and to ensure that developing countries, including the African countries, fully participate in the global economy and share the development dividend.

Third, strengthen the building of partnership for development. The international community should strengthen partnership for development with Africa, increase direct investment to the continent and scale up support and assistance to Africa. Developed countries need to honor their ODA commitments and help Africa with capital, technology and capacity building. Developing countries, on their part, need to strengthen South-South cooperation.

Fourth, support the African countries in addressing African issues in African ways. The international community shouldrespect the sovereignty of the African countries and help Africa achieve comprehensive peace. The international community should provide adequate, stable and sustainable funding to the AU-led peace operations, help the African countries enhance their capacity of conducting their own peace operations and facilitate the building of Africa’s collective security mechanisms.

Mr. Chairman,

China and Africa are good friends, good partners and good brothers. Guided by the policy underpinned by “sincerity, practical results, affinity and good faith”, China has advanced China-Africa cooperation in such priority areas as industrialization, agricultural modernization, infrastructure, environmental protection, and peace and security, in an effort to support Africa in implementing Agenda 2063 an the 2030 Agenda. China has taken an active part in the UN peacekeeping operations in Africa with over 2,600 peacekeepers currently serving in Africa. China is also an active player in combatting piracy and escorting civil ships off the coast of Somalia.

At the 2015 Johannesburg Summit of China-Africa Cooperation Forum, President Xi Jinping, together with African leaders, drew a blueprint for the development of friendly cooperation between China and Africa. Currently, the overall implementation of the outcome of the Summit is going on smoothly. A large number of cooperation projects in industry, agriculture, infrastructure, poverty reduction, public health, trade facilitation and green development are either completed or being implemented.

Africa is an important link and cooperation partner in the implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative. China will align its development strategy with that of Africa’s, and promote policy coordination, facilities connection, unimpeded trade, financial integration and people-to-people bond with Africa, thus realizing the mutual complementarity of our respective advantages. China is ready to work with Africa to strive for new achievements in our cooperation and further contribute to the global cause of peace and development. I wish complete success of the 2017 Africa Week!

Thank you, Mr. Chairman.