UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres speaks during a press conference after the Second AU-UN Annual Conference for a wide range of topics on peace, security and development in Africa, at the AU headquarters in Addis Ababa, on July 9, 2018. Guterres said on Aug 30, 2018 that China-Africa cooperation is fundamental for Africa's success. (MAHEDER HAILESELASSIE TADESE / AFP)

UNITED NATIONS - UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday that China-Africa cooperation is fundamental for Africa's success.

The UN chief said that China's cooperation with Africa is not only aimed at economic cooperation but also is an important pathway to improve global development patterns, global governance

Speaking at a joint interview with Chinese correspondents a day before his Beijing trip to attend the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), Guterres said: "I am a true believer that the success of the world in development and peace depends on Africa's success, and China's cooperation with Africa is fundamental for Africa's success."

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The UN chief said that China's cooperation with Africa is not only aimed at economic cooperation but is also an important pathway to improve global development patterns, global governance and the development of globalization.

"The world is one, the planet is one, we are living in an integrated time, everything is interlocked," Guterres said.

In such a highly integrated time, the world needs to strengthen connectivity through investment in ports, roads, railways and telecommunications, many of which are associated with the Belt and Road Initiative, he added.

The FOCAC Beijing summit, scheduled from Sept 3-4, will feature a theme: "China and Africa: Toward an Even Stronger Community with a Shared Future Through Win-Win Cooperation."  

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