On Aug. 16, 2013, Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun met with all members of the visiting delegation of senior diplomats from Africa.

Zhai Jun extended welcome to the delegation members for visiting China. He said that China and Africa enjoy a long history of relationship. China-Africa relationship has gone into a new stage of all-dimensional and rapid development in recent years. China and Africa have achieved fruitful results in the cooperation in politics, economy, trade, people-to-people and cultural exchanges as well as in international and regional affairs. At present, China and Africa are both at a crucial stage of their own development and both sides regard each other’s development as its own opportunity. The Chinese side is willing to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with the African side to jointly promote economic and social development of China and Africa and to better benefit the two peoples.

Gaoussou Toure, head of the delegation and Secretary General of the Foreign Ministry of Guinea, on behalf of the delegation, spoke highly of the enormous achievements of China in reform and opening up. He expressed appreciation and gratitude for China’s long-time support for the peace and development cause in Africa. He said that the African side cherishes the friendship with China and is willing to strengthen cooperation with the Chinese side to achieve common development.