"China believes the upcoming FOCAC Summit will further strengthen the cultural bond, write a new chapter of understanding and affinity between the Chinese and African people, and give a strong boost to the relations and building of a community with a shared future between China and Africa." China's Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference in Beijing on Monday.

Mao Ning, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson/MFA PRC

In a joint letter to President Xi Jinping, 63 scholars from 50 African countries highly commended the historic achievements of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and said they keenly look forward to the upcoming FOCAC Summit. In his reply letter, President Xi Jinping expressed the hope that they will continue to offer important intellectual support for building a high-quality China-Africa community with a shared future and upholding the common interests of the Global South. Some of those African scholars said that President Xi Jinping's reply letter shows the importance China attaches to academic exchanges with Africa, and that people-to-people exchanges have contributed to Africa-China dialogue and cooperation.

In response, Mao said that China and Africa share a long-standing friendship and our two peoples enjoy natural affinity. As President Xi Jinping said in the reply letter, China and Africa have always been a community with a shared future.

Mao introduced that People-to-people exchange is part and parcel of China-Africa cooperation in the new era. Thanks to joint efforts, the two sides have had fruitful education cooperation, expanded the variety and range of cultural exchanges and continued the long tradition of exchanges between the Chinese and African civilizations. Mutual understanding and friendship between our two peoples have further deepened. Inspiring events such as the China-Africa Youth Festival and "Shared space, China-Africa dreams" provide fresh impetus to China-Africa friendship. (By Ma Ziqian/China Youth Daily)