Xi pens welcome message to Fifth China-Africa People's Forum

The Fifth China-Africa People's Forum will create even stronger dynamism for friendly people-to-people contacts and cooperation between China and Africa, President Xi Jinping said in a congratulatory message on Monday.

People-to-people friendship constitutes the cornerstone of state-to-state relations, as well as a key area for future development of China-Africa relations, Xi said in the message to the forum, which opened on Monday in Chengdu, capital of Southwest China's Sichuan province.

He said he hopes the forum provides an opportunity for all participants to share ideas and experience, build consensus and contribute their insights and suggestions on friendly people-to-people cooperation between China and Africa, so as to gather fresh momentum and garner stronger support for the building of an even stronger community with a shared future for China and Africa.

He noted that since it was launched in 2011, the forum has achieved gratifying progress and become an institutionalized event that plays an essential role in advancing the friendly people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa.

By adhering to the three principles for China-Africa people-to-people friendship, which are "enhancing people-to-people friendship, promoting practical cooperation and furthering world peace", the forum has served as an important bridge that brings the Chinese people and African people together, he said.

The forum, jointly hosted by the China NGO Network for International Exchanges and Sichuan provincial government, carries the theme, "Pooling Strength from the People for Stronger China-Africa Friendship and Mutual Trust".

Over 100 representatives, including those from the NGO, think tanks and the media from more than 30 African countries, are taking part in the meeting.