Beijing, August 16^th - China's President Xi Jinping met with the African health ministers and representatives at the Ministerial Forum of China-Africa Health Development on Friday. Chinese representatives, African representatives from 47 countries and eight international organizations took part in the forum. During the forum, a Beijing Declaration of China-Africa Health Cooperation was signed. The declaration maps out a plan to fight diseases including malaria and HIV/AIDS.

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President Xi said: "The friendship of China and Africa has a long history. Trust and sincerity between the two sides are more precious than gold. China and Africa have similar historic experiences and development tasks and I believe we also share bright prospects for development."

Xi added: "China-Africa Health Cooperation is an important part of China-Africa Cooperation. After nearly half a century, China has sent medical teams of more than 18,000 doctors to African counties. These medical teams have relieved pains and illnesses for more than 250 million African people. In the future, China will continue sending more medical relief workers to Africa to provide treatment and medicines for African friends."

Human development is the core of development. President Xi wishes China and African countries will embark on new efforts to achieve sustainable, long-term health solutions. Furthermore, China and African countries can engage further with private enterprise to encourage technology transfer and increase access to low-cost health technologies that meet high quality standards.

Xi expressed his thanks for the support from World Health Organization. World Health Organization makes a great contribution to China-Africa Health Cooperation and to equity in world health. Xi promised China would continue to support the work of World Health Organization.

Comoros Vice President Fouad Mohadji, one of African representatives, thanked the Chinese government's long-term support of health and poverty eradication initiatives in Africa. She said the forum would help strengthen mutually beneficial relations between Africa and China.