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In an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency, State
Councilor Tang Jiaxuan expounded on the China-African relationship
and the significance of the "New-Type Strategic Partnership"
emanating from the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC)
Beijing Summit.
Xinhua: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the
inauguration of diplomatic relations between New China and certain
African countries. How do you view the growth of China's relations
with the region?
Tang Jiaxuan: Despite the vast distance
separating China and Africa, there is a long history of friendly
exchanges. The founding of New China in 1949 ushered in a new era
in China-Africa relations. In May 1956, ambassadorial-level
diplomatic relations were established between China and the Arab
Republic of Egypt, the first formal ties with an African nation,
marking the beginning of a new stage in China-Africa relations.
Since then, many African countries have established diplomatic
relations with China after gaining their independence. China now
has diplomatic ties with 48 African countries.
Over the past 50 years, the Chinese and African peoples have
shared weal and woe, and sympathized with and supported each other.
China has always stood firmly with the people of Africa and
provided moral support and material assistance in their strenuous
struggle to overthrow colonial rule and gain national liberation.
Since African countries won independence, China has continued to
support them in upholding their sovereignty, safeguarding their
independence and promoting economic development. By so doing, China
has contributed to political stability and socio-economic
development in Africa.
African countries have also offered valuable support to China.
Our African friends played an important role in restoring the
lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the United
Nations. They gave China strong support in foiling anti-China
resolutions introduced by some Western countries before the UN
Human Rights Commission. The vast majority of African countries
adheres to the one-China principle and support China's
reunification. They have helped China defeat many attempts by
Taiwan to "participate in the United Nations" and squeeze its way
back into the World Health Organization and other international
bodies. They also supported China's bid to host the 2008 Olympics
and the 2010 World Expo.
?In recent years, new progress has been made in China-Africa
relations based on a tradition of friendship, and this finds
expression in enhanced political relations and closer cooperation
in the economic, trade, cultural, educational and other fields. As
this year is of special commemorative significance, Chinese and
African leaders have agreed to work together to lift China-Africa
relations to a new level. To this end, the Chinese Government,
early this year, issued an "African Policy" calling for a new type
of strategic partnership. This has received a warm response from
African countries. In April and June this year, President Hu Jintao
and Premier Wen Jiabao made separate visits to Africa. From
November 3-5, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit
and its Third Ministerial Conference brought several dozen African
leaders to Beijing to exchange views with Chinese leaders on
enhancing future cooperation.
I wish to point out in particular that, despite the profound
changes both in the international environment and in China and
Africa over the past half century, China-Africa friendship has
stood the test of time, gained in strength and is thriving with
great vitality. The fundamental reason is that the two sides have
always treated each other with sincerity and as equals, and pursued
mutual benefit, solidarity, cooperation and common development.
This is a valuable asset that 50 years of China-Africa friendship
have left us and it will continue to drive the strong, long-term
growth of China-Africa relations.
Xinhua: You mentioned the "African Policy" issued by the
Chinese Government. What is the basic thrust of China's policy
towards Africa?
Tang Jiaxuan: The African Policy is the first
policy paper on a continent ever issued by the Chinese Government.
It shows our resolve to enhance China-Africa solidarity and
cooperation in the new situation. The main content is to foster a
new type of strategic partnership featuring political equality and
mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and enrichment through
cultural exchanges. Specifically, it has three essential
elements:
Politically, China and Africa should be strategic partners that
trust and support each other. The two sides should maintain
high-level exchanges and dialogue and enhance people-to-people
exchanges in diversified forms to boost popular support for
China-Africa friendship. They should be guided by the principle of
treating each other as equals and of mutual non-interference in
each other's internal affairs, and respect for each other's
independent choice of development path. In international affairs,
the two sides should strengthen coordination and cooperation to
jointly promote democracy in international relations and uphold the
lawful rights and interests of developing countries.
Economically, China and Africa should be cooperative partners
and should draw on each other's strength for mutual benefit. They
should work together to enhance South-South cooperation and
North-South dialogue and work for economic globalization to develop
in a way that brings balanced, general and win-win benefits to all.
They should promote economic cooperation in diversified forms to
increase trade volume and improve the overall trade structure. The
Chinese Government will implement the five measures to help other
developing countries accelerate their development announced by
President Hu Jintao at the "High-level Meeting on Financing for
Development" during last year's UN World Summit. China will
continue to encourage and assist Chinese companies to invest in
Africa. And we also warmly welcome African companies doing business
in China.
Culturally, China and Africa should be partners in advancing
human civilization and building a harmonious world. We should
exchange experiences on governance and respect cultural diversity.
And we should promote tolerance, dialogue and equality among
different civilizations so that they can draw on each other's
strengths and enjoy common prosperity. China and Africa should
learn from each other through enhanced cultural exchanges.
Xinhua: What is the significance of the Beijing Summit
in the development of China-Africa relations?
Tang Jiaxuan: The Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation was founded by China and Africa in 2000. It has become
an effective mechanism and important platform for enhancing
China-Africa collective dialogue and cooperation in practical terms
in the new era. The friendship and cooperation over the past 50
years between the two sides and the progress achieved since FOCAC's
establishment need to be reviewed to push the work forward in the
new century through the new strategic partnership, hence the
Beijing Summit.
?There is a great need to upgrade the mutually beneficial
cooperation between China and Africa and inject new vigor. I am
convinced that the successful convocation of the Summit will
enhance the friendship between the Chinese and African leaders, and
promote comprehensive growth of China-Africa friendship and
cooperation in greater depth and broader terms and lift them to a
higher level. It will enhance solidarity of developing countries
and South-South cooperation and contribute to the glorious cause of
global peace and development.
Xinhua: Some people are fanning the "China Threat" in
Africa. There are also people in Africa who fear that an influx of
Chinese commodities will cause unemployment. What is your view on
this issue? What benefits will China's development bring to
Africa?
Tang Jiaxuan: China and African countries are
all-weather friends, partners of sincere cooperation and good
brothers. China wishes Africa well. It is committed to helping
Africa and hopes to see it grow and become stronger. The economic
cooperation and trade between China and Africa are mutually
beneficial. China's development creates more development
opportunities for Africa. The allegations you mention are unfounded
as far as history is concerned, and they also distort the current
relationship between China and Africa.
First, China's development has created a growing export market
for Africa. In recent years, China's foreign trade has increased
rapidly, and so have its imports from Africa. In 2005, the
China-Africa trade volume reached US$39.8 billion. It included
US$21.1 billion of imports from Africa, exceeding our exports to
the region.
Second, China's development has created more job opportunities
for Africa. The Chinese Government encourages established and
reputable Chinese companies to invest in Africa with diversified
forms. According to preliminary statistics, China's total
investment in Africa has reached US$6.27 billion. China has
launched over 800 non-financial investment projects in 49 African
countries, covering trade, manufacturing and processing, resource
development, communications, agriculture, etc. China will develop
new forms of cooperation, expand the investment scale, upgrade
cooperation and provide quality service to promote common
development.
Third, China has endeavored to provide sincere assistance to
Africa. Up to now, over 720 major projects have been completed in
49 African countries with Chinese assistance, and 58 projects have
been launched in 26 countries with preferential loans from China.
We have exempted 10.9 billion yuan of debts of 31 heavily indebted
poor countries and the least developed countries in Africa, and
given zero-tariff treatment to some of the imports from 28 least
developed countries in Africa. China has also trained over 14,600
African personnel in various fields.
It is unavoidable that some problems may occur in the process of
continuous expansion of cooperation. These problems are limited in
nature and can be resolved through consultation in accordance with
the principles of equality and mutual accommodation. China
appreciates the concern of some African countries regarding the
trade deficit and textiles and is taking measures and working with
the African countries concerned to resolve them.
I also wish to point out that China-Africa cooperation is
transparent, open and inclusive. It will not affect the cooperation
of either China or any African country with a third party, nor will
it hurt the interests of any third party. On the contrary,
strengthened China-Africa cooperation and common development will
bring only good opportunities for the rest of the world.
Xinhua: What does future hold for China-Africa
relations?
Tang Jiaxuan: The traditional China-Africa
friendship is of great value to both sides. China is the biggest
developing country and Africa has the largest number of developing
countries. In the new era, common interests are increasing rather
than decreasing, and the potential for cooperation is expanding
rather than diminishing. Boosting China-Africa friendship and
all-round cooperation is a long-term and strategic decision made by
China, and it is a natural choice for the two sides in pursuit of
common development and prosperity. Strengthened consultation and
closer cooperation between the two sides will uphold the legitimate
rights and interests of developing countries and advance democracy
in international relations. I am convinced that, with the concerted
efforts of both China and the African nations, we will surely make
greater contributions to the building of a harmonious world of
enduring peace and common prosperity.
(China.org.cn)
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