Chinese President Xi Jinping welcomed African leaders in Beijing on Wednesday for a summit aimed at strengthening ties amid strained relations with the West.
Xi and his wife, Peng Liyuan, hosted a banquet in the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing to mark the start of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
Over the next three days, leaders from approximately 50 African countries will discuss cooperation in areas such as agriculture, security, and industrialization.
Bilateral meetings were held Wednesday between Xi and leaders from South Africa, Djibouti, Cameroon, and others. UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres attended the summit as a special guest.
As Africa’s largest trading partner and investor, China has sought to strengthen its relationships with African nations to counterbalance U.S. and European influence in the developing regions.
