There is an African proverb: "A river is deep when it has a source." "China-Africa friendly exchanges have a long history. In the fifties and sixties of the last century, Mao Zedong, Zhou Enlai and other leaders of the first generation of New China and the older generation of African politicians jointly opened a new era of China-Africa relations. Since then, the Chinese and African peoples have supported each other and cooperated sincerely on the road of development and rejuvenation in the struggle against colonialism, anti-imperialism, national independence and liberation, and forged a brotherhood of sharing the same breath, common destiny and heart-to-heart.

- "Always Be a Reliable Friend and Sincere Partner - Speech at Nyerere International Conference Center, Tanzania" (March 25, 2013)

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Although China and Africa are separated by thousands of mountains and rivers, the friendly exchanges between the Chinese and African people are full of momentum and have a long history. China and Africa share similar historical experiences, and have always sympathized with and supported each other in the struggle for national liberation, forged a deep friendship, and become good friends who share weal and woe.

In the fifties and sixties of the 20 th century, when the African people were striving for national independence, China firmly stood on the side of the African people and gave full support to the just struggle of the African people against imperialism, colonialism and national independence. Mao Zedong made it clear that "we do work and make friends" and that the focus "should be on the three continents, that is, Asia, Africa and Latin America".

From December 1963 to February 1965, Zhou Enlai led delegations to visit 10 African countries three times, which was the "pioneering journey" for the establishment of a new type of Sino-African relations in the diplomatic history of New China, and became the preface to the "Friends" written by China and Africa in 50 years of history. During his visit to Egypt and Algeria, Zhou Enlai put forward the five principles for the development of relations between China and African and Arab countries, which became the basis for Sino-African exchanges, and the two sides established a new type of relationship of mutual understanding and mutual support. China's exchanges with Africa are equal and sincere, which is unprecedented in the history of international relations.

The African people have also given strong support and selfless help to the Chinese people. In October 1971, the twenty-sixth session of the United Nations General Assembly adopted a resolution to restore the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations, with 11 African countries among the 23 sponsors, and 26 of the 76 votes in favor of the vote came from African countries. The vast majority of African countries have given China strong support on a series of major issues, such as defeating the anti-China motion on "Chinese's human rights situation" and the proposal on "Taiwan's participation in the United Nations," supporting China's accession to the WTO, and China's bid to host the Olympic Games.

Over the past half century and more, China-Africa friendly and cooperative relations have withstood the test of time and have been constantly consolidated and developed. At present, 52 of the 54 countries in Africa have established diplomatic relations with China.

On March 24, 2013, Xi Jinping and his entourage arrived at Dar es Salaam International Airport in Tanzania and paid a 26-hour visit to the East African country, which was Xi Jinping's first visit to Africa after assuming the presidency of China and his sixth visit to the African continent. In an important speech at the Nyerere International Conference Center in Tanzania, Xi Jinping talked about the long history of China-Africa friendship, which is precisely to show that China-Africa relations are not developed in a day, let alone given by anyone, but the two sides have come out step by step through thick and thin, sharing weal and woe.

"Making friends is a big deal, and the phase is a thousand miles away". It was also in this important speech that Xi Jinping put forward China's "four-character proposition" for developing relations with Africa: treat African friends with a "true" word; Carry out cooperation with Africa and speak the word "real"; Strengthen China-Africa friendship and speak the word "pro"; To solve problems in cooperation, we should speak the word "sincerity". Xi Jinping's "four-character proposal" vividly illustrates the essential characteristics of China-Africa relations: sincerity, friendship, mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and common development. Although China and Africa are separated by oceans, their hearts are connected.