President hails strong ties with Eritrea

Xi expounded on the need for China and Africa to build up their solidarity and tackle challenges of the times under the new circumstances, saying that mutual respect, understanding, support and help will forever be the focus of China-Africa friendship.

He noted that Africa is "a land full of hope", adding that cooperation between China and Africa plays an important role in guiding South-South cooperation and international cooperation with the continent.

He reaffirmed China's resolve to work with African nations to carry forward the traditional friendship, consolidate strategic mutual trust and provide new opportunities for Africa, as China moves forward with high-quality growth and follows its own path to modernization.

The two sides should further deepen and firm up pragmatic cooperation and promote the building of an even closer China-Africa community with a shared future, Xi said.