Chinese President Xi Jinping will deliver a keynote speech at the extraordinary China-Africa summit on solidarity against COVID-19 on Wednesday.

The meeting, held via video link, starts at a pivotal moment as the pandemic continues to rage globally, and some African nations are struggling with limited medical resources.

It also highlights the necessity and significance of China-Africa joint efforts to curb the virus and overcome difficulties based on their long mutual help and traditional friendship.

After the epidemic hit the world, China and African countries have been using multiple channels to support and encourage each other.

When China was at the peak of its battle against the virus earlier this year, African countries supported it as much as possible.

African people, from leaders to ordinary citizens, also voiced their support for China and made relentless efforts to provide donations and other supplies to China. In Wuhan, some African students worked as volunteers, whilst others wrote an open letter praying for China.

When its pandemic died down, China appreciated and thanked their African brothers by helping them weather difficult times. People from government officials to business people and civil groups donated much-needed supplies to Africa, including ventilators, test kits, N95 masks and protective gear. Chinese and African government officials and think tank experts have also held multiple video conferences to share information and experience in combating the epidemic.

In the meantime, Chinese medical teams stationed across Africa organized various training and healthcare activities to help locals improve their capabilities in pandemic prevention and control.

China has also demonstrated its commitment to building a community of shared health for mankind and a China-Africa community with a shared future. The pledge was further cemented when President Xi said, "We must provide greater support to Africa," at the opening of the 73rd World Health Assembly on May 18.

China and Africa have a long history of mutual relations on economy, development and politics. The bilateral cooperation in healthcare has lasted more than half a century. During this period, China has dispatched over 20,000 medical workers and provided medical and healthcare assistance to over 50 African countries.

African countries' relations with China are as solid as ever and the two sides are confident in securing victory from this crisis. The China-Africa friendship has stood the test of time, which was manifested through the devastating earthquakes in Southwest China's Wenchuan in May 2008 and Northwest China's Yushu city in April 2010, when African countries donated generously to China.

In particular, during the Ebola epidemic, China sent four batches of humanitarian supplies, 750 million yuan ($105.27 million), and a team of about 700 medical experts to African countries.

The longstanding Africa-China bonds are built on mutual respect and understanding, and have advanced through mutual support to overcome the challenges in the past decades. During the current pandemic, China and Africa have written a new chapter in friendship, and have promoted the building of a community with a shared future for mankind. In the future, the friendship will continue to overcome new challenges that emerge.