Xi holds bilateral events with leaders attending FOCAC in Beijing

President Xi holds bilateral events with leaders attending FOCAC summit in Beijing emphasizing on the importance of cooperation.

Chinese President Xi Jinping began holding bilateral meetings with foreign leaders on Monday, ahead of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) set to take place from September 4 to 6 in Beijing.

Xi’s first meeting of the day was with Felix Tshisekedi, the President of the Democratic Republic of the Congo, held at the Great Hall of the People at 10 a.m.

During the FOCAC summit, Xi is scheduled to attend the opening ceremony and deliver a keynote address on September 5. Additionally, he will host a welcome banquet for the leaders and representatives present at the summit.

Following previous summits in Beijing in 2006, Johannesburg in 2015, and Beijing again in 2018, this upcoming summit continues the tradition of fostering China-Africa relations. It is also notable for being the largest diplomatic event hosted by China in recent years, featuring the highest number of attending foreign leaders.