Song introduced the main content of the third volume of Xi Jinping: The Governance of China and said, President Xi Jinping chaired the Extraordinary China-Africa Summit on Solidarity Against COVID-19 and delivered a keynote speech not long ago, charting the course for China-Africa anti-epidemic cooperation and the future direction of China-Africa relations against backdrop of the COVID-19. China and Congo enjoy a traditional friendship and the two heads of state have maintained close exchanges. This year, the two sides have been fighting the COVID-19 together, which has further enhanced mutual trust and friendship. The CPC is willing to work with the Congolese Party of Labour to implement the important consensus of the two heads of state, deepen mutual learning of experience on state governance and administration, promote cooperation in various fields, and promote the building of a closer China-Africa community with a shared future, in a bid to better benefit the people.

Song emphasized, amid the epidemic, no country can just mind its own business. Solidarity and cooperation are the right way forward. At present, some countries slander China and the CPC, and deliberately create tensions to serve its own interests, seriously threatening world peace and development. The Chinese side appreciates the Congolese side’s firm support on issues concerning the Chinese side’s core interests including the Taiwan question, the Hong Kong issue, and the South China Sea issue. The Chinese side will continue to support African countries, including the Republic of Congo, in exploring development paths that suit their own national conditions, oppose external forces’ interference in Africa’s internal affairs, jointly safeguard the interests of developing countries, and champion multilateralism and international fairness and justice.

Moussa said, since the establishment of diplomatic relations between Congo and China 56 years ago, the two peoples have always respected and supported each other in the struggle for national independence and in exploring the development paths that suit their own national conditions. Facing the sudden outbreak of the COVID-19, the CPC has led the Chinese people to achieve important results in the fight against the epidemic, providing helpful reference for African countries including Congo. For a long time, China has provided a lot of support and assistance for Congo to restore economic development and improve people's livelihood. The Congolese People and the Congolese Party of Labour will always cherish this. The Congolese side firmly supports China's efforts in safeguarding national sovereignty and the right to development. Congo will stand firmly beside China under any circumstances. The Congolese Party of Labour is willing to strengthen exchanges and cooperation with the CPC, push the two countries to strengthen the docking of development strategies and cooperation projects, continue to deepen the Congo-China comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership, and jointly maintain a fair and reasonable international order.

Li Mingxiang, Assistant-minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee, presided over the opening ceremony. Ma Fulin, Chinese Ambassador to the Republic of Congo and others were present.

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