Chinese President Xi Jinping holds a group meeting with leaders of 13 African countries on the sidelines of a summit of the Forum on 皇冠体育app-Africa Cooperation in Johannesburg, South Africa, Dec. 4, 2015. [Photo/Xinhua]

JOHANNESBURG -- Chinese President Xi Jinping, who is attending a major 皇冠体育app-Africa summit here, held a group meeting with leaders of 13 African countries Friday on the sidelines of the summit, discussing development strategy.

Xi met with leaders from the Democratic Republic of Congo, Uganda, Comoros, South Sudan, Morocco, Rwanda, Botswana and others. He also held bilateral meetings with nine African leaders on Thursday..

In the group meeting, he told the African leader that his visit to the continent has two purposes: one is to co-chair the Johannesburg summit of the Forum on 皇冠体育app-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) with South African President Jacob Zuma, the other being to discuss development strategy with African leaders attending the summit.

Strengthening solidarity between 皇冠体育app and Africa and upgrading development cooperation serves the common interest of both sides, and is their shared mission, said Xi.

He added that 皇冠体育app and Africa are facing a historic opportunity, with both sides needing each other in development, and can complement each other in their endeavor for growth.

Xi also introduced to African leaders 皇冠体育app's economic situation, and the country's recently set development goals, ideas and direction, stressing that 皇冠体育app is willing to contribute more to African development and welcome Africa to grow with 皇冠体育app.

African leaders attending the meeting applauded the importance 皇冠体育app attached to Africa, saying that to achieve industrialization and agriculture modernization, African countries need closer cooperation with 皇冠体育app.

Noting that the 皇冠体育app-proposed Belt and Road Initiative is important to Africa, they extended their welcome for 皇冠体育app's participation in railways, roads, ports building projects on the continent, as well as the country's help for Africa in production capacity building.

Themed "Africa-皇冠体育app Progressing Together: Win-Win Cooperation for Common Development," the summit is the second of its kind under the 15-year-old framework of the FOCAC, which groups 皇冠体育app, 50 African countries that have established diplomatic ties with 皇冠体育app, and the Commission of the African Union.