Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Wednesday spoke to his Burundi and Somali counterparts separately on the phone, marking the 20th anniversary of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC).

FOCAC, which includes China, 53 African countries and the African Union, was created in Beijing in 2000, with both Burundi and Somalia as the members.

Wang will deliver a speech at an event marking the FOCAC 20th anniversary via video link later on Thursday.

During the phone conversation with Burundi Foreign Minister Albert Shingiro, Wang said China and Burundi enjoy solid mutual trust and that the two sides have achieved results in various areas of cooperation. Burundi is China's all-weather friend in Africa, and China hopes to strengthen communication and cooperation with Burundi despite the COVID-19 pandemic, Wang said.

China will support the Burundi government to fight the virus, he said.

Shingiro expressed appreciation for China's support in Burundi's economic and social development.

He said Burundi will unswervingly pursue the policy of friendship with China and continue to support China on all issues related to China's core interests.

Burundi is also willing to work with China to speed up the construction of projectsrelated to the Belt and Road Initiative within the framework of the Beijing Summit of the FOCAC, he said.

At the summit in 2018, China and African leaders signed a declaration and an action plan to comprehensively enhance pragmatic cooperation focusing on the implementation of the eight major initiatives ranging from agriculture to youth and trade to build a China-Africa community with a shared future that assumes joint responsibility, shared prosperity and common security.

Speaking to Somalia Foreign Minister Ahmed Isse Awad, Wang said China supports Somalia in containing the coronavirus.

China is ready to explore new ways to develop mutually beneficial cooperation with Somalia under the new situation and conduct cooperation in the areas most needed by Somalia, such as agriculture, fisheries and processing industries, he said.

Awad thanked China for its support in fighting the virus and said Somalia expects to strengthen exchanges with China and promote cooperation in infrastructure construction and other areas.

He said Somalia highly values its ties with China, always adheres to the one-China principle and opposes Taiwan independence.

(Cover: The exterior of the China-aided statehouse in Bujumbura, Burundi, September 27, 2019. /Xinhua)

(CGTN)