On November 10, 2011, Vice Foreign Minister Zhai Jun and U.S. Assistant Secretary of State for African Affairs Johnnie Carson held the fifth round of China-U.S. consultations on African affairs in Beijing.

The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on the African situation, regional hotspot issues and their respective cooperation with Africa. Both sides agreed that currently the African situation is in an important period of evolution. China and the U.S., as important cooperative partners of Africa, should further increase support and assistance to Africa and jointly contribute to the continent's peace, stability and development.