In an effort to reestablish connections with the continent after years of neglect, President Joe Biden unveiled on Wednesday a series of initiatives aimed at supporting African nations in areas such as trade, internet connectivity, and climate change.

In Washington for a three-day summit, 49 African heads of state and government spoke at the US-Africa Business Forum.

In a speech that, according to expectations, made no mention of China, which has become the continent's top trade partner and has spent years establishing excellent relations with the region's governments, the president stated, "The United States is all in on Africa's future."

Biden aims to use the meeting to repair relations that froze during the administration of Donald Trump, who disparaged immigrants from "sh-thole countries" by naming many African nations along with Haiti and El Salvador.

The first US-Africa Leaders Summit was convened by President Barack Obama in 2014.

"Holding the first summit of its sort in 2014 was a watershed moment for cementing new types of relationships between our nations, partnerships not to create political duty, nor – or nurture dependency – its dependence – but to build shared prosperity and opportunity. Because when Africa thrives, the United States succeeds; in fact, the entire world succeeds," remarked Obama's vice president, Joe Biden.

The most major move announced on Wednesday was the signing of a memorandum of understanding between Washington and the new Secretariat of the African Continental Free Trade Area.

Finally, the African Continental Free Trade Area is being implemented. It would represent one of the world's greatest free trade zones, 1.3 billion people, and a continent-wide market worth $3.4 trillion," said Vice President Joe Biden.

The agreement between the Millennium Challenge Corporation, a US aid agency, and the governments of Benin and Niger asks for a $500 million investment to facilitate and expedite the shipping of products from the Port of Cotonou (Benin) to landlocked countries.

"Today, I am announcing that the U.S. International Development Finance Corporation would invest roughly $370 million in new initiatives" whose objectives include, among others, improving food security in Africa and expanding the use of renewable energy.