Xinhua News Agency, Beijing, February 17 — President Xi Jinping sent a message on February 17 congratulating the opening of the 37th African Union Summit.

Xi Jinping noted that the world today is undergoing major changes unseen in a century, and that the "Global South," represented by China and Africa, is developing vigorously and profoundly influencing the course of world history. The African Union unites African countries in seeking strength through solidarity and vigorously advances integration and the building of a free trade area. The African Union's successful accession to the G20 has further enhanced Africa's representation and voice in global governance. China extends its heartfelt congratulations on this.

Xi Jinping stressed that over the past year, China-Africa relations have continued to develop in depth, the China-Africa Leaders' Dialogue was successfully held, and the two sides decided to support each other in exploring their respective paths to modernization and to jointly create a favorable environment for realizing their development visions. A new session of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation will be held in 2024. I am ready to work with African leaders to, with a view to benefiting the people of both sides, carefully plan a new blueprint for China-Africa cooperation and promote the building of a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.