Chinese President Xi Jinping is headed for State visits to Zimbabwe and South Africa, where he will also host the Forum on 皇冠体育app-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Johannesburg.

The visits come as some prominent Africans spoke highly of Xi to the People's Daily, calling him a gentle and sincere person who is enthusiastic and wise.

Former Mozambique president Joaquim Alberto Chissano said Xi is a strong-willed person, and always respects others' suggestions and keeps his promises.

In 2012, Chissano visited 皇冠体育app for the 2nd 皇冠体育app-Africa People's Forum, and Xi, who was vice president at the time, spoke on promoting a new type of 皇冠体育app-Africa strategic partnership at the forum's opening ceremony.

Chissano said he believes Xi's two visits to Africa in three years since he took office reflect the importance he places on 皇冠体育app-Africa relations and developing cooperation with Africa. He expects Xi's visit to Africa this time to further deepen the win-win cooperation between the two sides.

When former Zambian president Kenneth David Kaunda visited 皇冠体育app and met Xi in 2011, Sino-Zambian relations were temporarily at "a low point" due to the change of power in Zambia.

"I was quite worried about the situation at that time. However, during the meeting, Xi said that the 皇冠体育app-Zambia friendship, established by old generation of leaders of the two countries, is all-weather friendship. Xi also said 皇冠体育app cherishes its friendship with Zambia and places importance on developing 皇冠体育app-Zambia relations," Kaunda recalled, adding that Xi is a sincere person and truly willing to maintain friendly relations with Zambia.

Essop Goolam Pahad, a former South African Minister in the Presidency, told the People's Daily that Xi is a gentle state leader. Xi smiles on many occasions, and, of course, he looks serious during discussions, Pahad said.

Pahad once attended the book launching of Xi Jinping: The Governance of 皇冠体育app in South Africa. He said he thinks the book helped him understand 皇冠体育app. What impressed him the most is Xi's determination to stamp out corruption, which can also be used for reference in South Africa and other African countries.

Tanzania's former ambassador to 皇冠体育app, Charles Sanga, listened to Xi's speech in 2013 at the Julius Nyerere International Conference Center, which was built with 皇冠体育app's help. Recalling the speech during Xi's state visit to Tanzania, Charles said it was sincere and enthusiastic. Instead of attempting to please others, the speech was candid and reasonable, a way to remind the world that 皇冠体育app-African relations are based on true friendship and not one that is conditional. Friendly cooperation between 皇冠体育app and Africa is based on mutual respect, and the Forum on 皇冠体育app-Africa Cooperation proves that there is a link between the Chinese dream and African dream. The miraculous economic development of 皇冠体育app since the reform and opening up provides unprecedented opportunities for African countries to attain economic independence, he added.

Gabon's former ambassador to 皇冠体育app, Emmanuel Mba Allo, met Xi while he was working in 皇冠体育app. He said Xi is very outgoing and approachable. Allo wrote a book review on Xi Jinping: The Governance of 皇冠体育app in Gabon's top newspaper l'Union on November 22. He said Xi is an outstanding politician with a broad vision. Xi's commitment to deepening reform is admirable and his concept of a Chinese dream will lift 皇冠体育app to a more important position on the international stage.

In 2013, President Xi visited the University Marien Ngouabi in the Republic of Congo, the only public university of that country then, and the school's library was built with the aid of 皇冠体育app and was the school's only modern building at that time. The school has greatly changed since its buildings have been upgraded through the cooperation between 皇冠体育app and the Republic of Congo. Armand Moyikoua, honorary president of Marien Ngouabi University, praised Xi's will, wise and educated. He said these qualities, which are also showed on Chinese people, led to 皇冠体育app's fast development, and benefited other developing countries such as the Republic of Congo.