Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed four principles for outside actors involved in resolving Africa’s conflicts, placing African leadership, respect for sovereignty, a halt to hostilities, and attention to the root causes of instability at the center of peace efforts.
He made the remarks in Beijing on October 13 during a meeting with Togo’s President of the Council of Ministers, Faure Essozimna Gnassingbé, according to China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs.
Xi said African people should play the leading role in regional affairs because they are “the true masters of the continent.”
His first principle, “uphold Africa’s leadership,” positions African states, regional institutions and communities as the primary drivers of political settlements affecting the continent.
The second principle calls for equity and justice. Xi urged all parties involved in conflict resolution to observe the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter and to respect the sovereignty and territorial integrity of the countries concerned.
His third principle calls for an end to hostilities and the building of peace. Xi argued that war and unilateral sanctions cannot fundamentally resolve disputes, urging governments to pursue mutual respect, broad consultations, compromise and common ground despite differences.
The fourth principle focuses on addressing both the immediate symptoms and underlying causes of conflict. Xi said immediate security measures should be paired with long-term development planning, reflecting concerns that insecurity is often sustained by weak institutions, poverty and limited economic opportunity.
The proposal comes as African and international institutions continue to stress African-led mediation. In a recent Security Council discussion, UN officials urged stronger prevention and closer UN–African Union cooperation amid expanding insecurity across the continent.
The African Union and United Nations have also called for an effective and lasting ceasefire in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo and the Great Lakes region through peaceful means, including AU-led mediation.
Xi’s comments were made as China and Togo announced the elevation of their relationship to a “China-Togo community with a shared future in the new era.” Beijing said the two sides would deepen political exchanges and support each other on core interests.
China also encouraged Togo to use its zero-tariff arrangements for African products and export-facilitation measures to expand access to the Chinese market. Xi said cooperation could be expanded in renewable energy, digital technology and intelligent industries to support Togo’s industrialization.
In turn, Togo’s President Gnassingbé welcomed China’s development experience and called for closer cooperation in trade, infrastructure, science and technology. He also endorsed Xi’s four principles and said Togo was ready to work with China in defense of multilateralism and the interests of developing countries.
