BEIJING - Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday sent a message of congratulations to African countries and peoples on the convening of the 29th African Union (AU) summit in Addis Ababa of Ethiopia.

In the congratulatory message, Xi noted the AU is a banner for unity and self-strengthening of Africa. The AU has actively promoted African integration and has prompted African countries to speak with one voice on major global and regional issues, making remarkable achievements, he added.

Xi voiced sincere hope that the AU will lead African countries to keep making greater achievements in the cause of pursuing peace and development.

Important early harvests have been reaped in implementing the outcomes of the Johannesburg summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), which has contributed to the economic and social development of Africa, Xi stressed.

Xi said the Chinese side will continue to adhere to the principles of its African policy -- sincerity, practical results, affinity and good faith, will uphold the values of friendship, justice and shared interests, and will actively promote alignment of the Ten Major China-Africa Cooperation Programs and the Belt and Road Initiative with the AU's Agenda 2063, to promote in-depth development of China-Africa comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership in the greater interest of Chinese and African peoples.

Proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping in 2013, the Belt and Road Initiative aims to build trade and infrastructure networks connecting Asia with Europe and Africa on and beyond the ancient Silk Road routes. It comprises the Silk Road Economic Belt and the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.