Full Text: Chinese Vice President Li Yuanchao's speech at the opening ceremony of the 4th China-Africa People's Forum (3)

Fourth, we must enhance people-to-people communication to increase mutual understanding and trust. There is a natural affinity and shared values between the people of China and Africa. We are good friends, good partners, and good brothers sharing same destiny and linked heart-to-heart. The profound friendship between our people, nurtured, maintained and developed by generations of leaders and people, should be dearly cherished and protected. At present, with China and Africa both developing rapidly, our friendship should be further deepened, and our mutual appreciation should evolve to keep up with the changes of our times. When new situations and problems appear, we should understand and respect each other, maintain frank and friendly communication, and solve them in the spirit of win-win cooperation. We should put up a strong guard and firm opposition against voices to deliberately smear China-Africa cooperation. We need to fully leverage the positive roles of communication platforms such as the China-Africa People's Forum, and enhance cooperation and exchanges between our media agencies and think-tanks, to give a strong voice to opportunities of China-Africa cooperation and the bright future of African development, and jointly spread positive energy for China-Africa relations.

This year marks the 70th anniversary of the founding of United Nations, and the 70th anniversary of the victory of the World Anti-Fascist War as well as the Chinese People's Resistance of Japanese Aggression. The people of China and Africa should strengthen solidarity and collaboration to firmly oppose the schemes and attempts to deny, distort, or temper with WWII history, and jointly safeguard the victorious results of WWII and international equity and justice, together with all peace-loving countries and peoples.

In Africa, people say that "if you want to go fast, go alone;if you want to go far, go together." In China, there is an ancient saying:" When brothers work together, they can break the strongest metal." Combined, China and Africa have 2.3 billion people. Without peaceful development in China and Africa, there would not be prosperity and stability in the world. Enhancing friendly cooperation with African countries has always been a cornerstone of China's foreign policy, and a long-term strategic decision. China will always be a reliable friend and sincere partner of the African countries. I hope all delegates attending the 4th China-Africa People's Forum share your frank opinions to contribute your wisdom and ideas to the comprehensive deepening of the new type of strategic partnership between China and Africa and the joint building of a China-Africa Community of Shared Destinies. Endi