China values its traditional friendship with Africa and has attached great importance to the development of China-Africa ties.

Let's have a glimpse of that closeness through a selection of Chinese President Xi Jinping's remarks on China-Africa ties.

-- "China and African countries are destined to be good friends, good brothers and good partners, and China-Africa cooperation stands as a fine example of South-South cooperation." (Excerpts from Xi's speech titled "Keeping Abreast of the Trend of the Times to Achieve Common Development" at the BRICS Business Forum in Johannesburg, South Africa on July 25, 2018.)

-- "For decades, China and Africa have treated each other with sincerity and friendship. We are a community with a shared future and common interests, featuring solidarity and win-win cooperation. Going forward, China will continue to deepen communication, mutual trust and cooperation with Rwanda and with other friendly African countries, based on the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith and the approach of upholding justice and pursuing shared interests." (Excerpts from Xi's signed article titled "China and Rwanda: A Friendship Higher than Mountains" on Rwandan newspaper The New Times on July 21, 2018 ahead of his state visit to the African country.)

-- "No matter how the international situation changes and to what stage China develops, China will, as always, stand with all developing countries, including African countries, and be a sincere friend and a reliable partner of Africa." (Excerpts from Xi's talks with Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on April 3, 2018.)

-- "China-Africa relations have today reached a stage of growth unmatched in history. We should scale the heights, look afar and take bold steps. Let us join hands, pool the vision and strength of the 2.4 billion Chinese and Africans and open a new era of China-Africa win-win cooperation and common development." (Excerpts from Xi's speech titled "Open a New Era of China-Africa Win-Win Cooperation and Common Development" at the opening ceremony of the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in South Africa on December 4, 2015.)

-- "The development of China-Africa ties can only be in present continuous tense, and never in present perfect tense." (Excerpts from Xi's remarks at a breakfast meeting with African leaders in Durban, South Africa on March 28, 2013.)

-- "As the saying goes, 'Numerous grains of earth make a mountain, numerous drops of water form an ocean.' As long as we keep advancing China-Africa cooperation, we will make even bigger achievements." (Excerpts from the joint interview Xi gave to media from BRICS countries in the Great Hall of the People on March 19, 2013.)