Xi vows action to bring China, Africa closer

Nation aims to expand imports, boost investment, spur industrialization and continue free-trade talks

President Xi Jinping unveiled on Monday eight major initiatives by China, including expanding imports from Africa, for the next three years and beyond to build a closer community with a shared future for China and Africa.

Xi made the announcement in his keynote speech at the opening ceremony of the 2018 Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. "The over 1.3 billion Chinese people have been with the over 1.2 billion African people in pursuing a shared future," Xi said.