On the occasion of the opening of the 5th China-Africa People's Forum (CAPF), I would like to extend, on behalf of the Communist Party of China, the Chinese government and the Chinese people, and in my own name, our warm congratulations on the forum, and our sincere welcome to leaders and participants from African countries who have come to this event!

The CAPF serves as an important bridge that brings the Chinese people and African people together. Since its inception in August 2011, by adhering to the three principles for China-Africa people-to-people friendship, namely, "enhancing people-to-people friendship,promoting practical cooperation and furthering world Peace", the forum has achieved gratifying progress and become an institutionalised event that plays an essential role in advancing the friendly people-to-people exchanges and cooperation between China and Africa.

People-to-people friendship constitutes the cornerstone of state-to-state relations as well as a key area for future development of China-Africa relations. In September this year, we will host the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. The 5th CAPF, under the theme of "Pooling Strength from the People for Stronger China-Africa Friendship and Mutual Trust", will certainly create even stronger dynamism for friendly people-to-people contacts and cooperation between China and Africa. It is my hope that this forum provides an opportunity for all of you to share ideas and experience, build consensus and contribute your insights and suggestions on friendly people-to-people cooperation between China and Africa, so as to gather fresh momentum and garner stronger support for the building of an even closer community with a shared future for China and Africa!

I wish the 5th China-Africa People's Forum a complete success!