China, Africa to deepen cooperation to support modernization

China pledges to step up high-quality cooperation with Africa, and provide a reliable driving force and foundation for Africa's journey toward modernization, according to a press briefing hosted by the China Public Diplomacy Association (CPDA) in Beijing on Wednesday.

At a "No. 7 Linjia" salon event, Du Xiaohui, director-general of the Department of African Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, shared remarkable progress on the implementation of the outcomes of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit with media workers from China and Africa.

The 2024 FOCAC summit, which was held from Sept 4 to 6, 2024, in Beijing, brought together leaders from China and African countries under the theme "Joining Hands to Advance Modernization and Build a High-Level China-Africa Community with a Shared Future."

"In jointly promoting a fair and equitable modernization, the political exchanges and multilateral coordination between the two sides have gone deeper. Since the summit, more than 20 Chinese delegations at the ministerial level and above have visited more than 20 African countries, and 28 delegations at the ministerial level and above from 15 African countries, including Kenyan President William Ruto have officially visited China," Du said.

According to Du, China-Africa economic ties have shown clear signs of quality growth.

In the first quarter of this year, bilateral trade reached 72.6 billion U.S. dollars, up 2.7 percent year on year.

"An additional 13.38 billion yuan of investment in Africa was made. A large number of key projects, such as the revitalization of the historic Tanzania-Zambia Railway, photovoltaic power stations and energy storage projects in countries including Cameroon, and construction materials and daily chemical product factories in countries including Tanzania, have been completed or achieved substantive progress," he said.

Economic and trade cooperation between China and Africa has demonstrated strong vitality, with a rapid increase in trade value over the past 25 years, official data showed.

China, Africa to deepen cooperation to support modernization

China, Africa to deepen cooperation to support modernization

Protesters filled Mexico City's Paseo de la Reforma on Saturday, rallying in solidarity with Venezuela and denouncing U.S. influence in Latin America.

The United States launched a large-scale military operation against Venezuela in the early hours of Jan 3, taking by force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Holding numerous flags and banners while chanting slogans intermittently, a huge crowd of protesters criticized U.S. military actions against Venezuela and the unlawful control over President Maduro and his spouse, calling for respect for national sovereignty and regional peace.

"We oppose the U.S. intervention and hegemony towards the countries in Latin America. The United States has flagrantly trampled on international law, bombed Caracas and kidnapped the Maduro couple. The U.S. interventionism has become extremely blatant. We must firmly oppose and be highly vigilant, because this is not only related to a certain country, but also to all countries," said a protester.

"We demand that the United States stop interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs. The country must immediately cease its exploitation and plundering of the countries in Latin America," said another protester.

Protest erupts in Mexico City over US military operation in Venezuela