China honors its commitment to cooperation with Africa: FM Wang Yi
Addis Ababa, March 8, 2022 (FBC) – On 7 March 2022, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended a press conference during the Fifth Session of the 13th National People’s Congress (NPC), China’s top legislature. Wang Yi answered questions from Chinese and foreign media about China’s foreign policy and external relations, including China-Africa cooperation.
Wang Yi underscored that each year, the Chinese foreign minister would start his overseas visits with a trip to Africa, which reflects China’s firm support for Africa’s development and rejuvenation.
“Over the years, China has built over 10,000 kilometers of railways, up to 100,000 kilometers of highways, nearly 100 ports, and innumerable hospitals and schools in Africa. These are not “debt traps”, but monuments of cooperation,” he noted.
Wang Yi pointed out that last year was a big year for China-Africa cooperation. At the Eighth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), President Xi Jinping announced nine programs for cooperation with Africa and called for building a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era, adding new impetus to the growth of China-Africa relations.
Wang Yi said that China starts implementing the deliverables of the Ministerial Conference this year.
China honors its commitment to cooperation with Africa, and never makes empty promises. China will champion the spirit of China-Africa friendship and cooperation, and work with African countries on advancing anti-COVID cooperation with Africa.
China will fully deliver on President Xi Jinping’s pledge of providing one billion doses of vaccines to Africa and help Africa enhance capacity for localized vaccine production as Africa works toward the goal of vaccinating 60 percent of its population by the end of 2022.
China will further upgrade China-Africa practical cooperation, accelerate high-quality Belt and Road cooperation and work for early harvests under the nine programs, Wang Yi said.
China will synergize the Global Development Initiative with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and take concrete actions to support the economic recovery and sustainable development of Africa, he added.
Wang Yi also underscored that China will act on the Outlook on Peace and Development in the Horn of Africa. “China has appointed a special envoy for the Horn of Africa, and is prepared to engage in extensive communication with countries in the region and play a constructive role for the peace and development of the Horn of Africa and the African continent as a whole,”
Wang Yi also stressed that as the CPC will hold it 20th National Congress this year, China will continue to present its stories well so that more international friends may truly understand the CPC.
China will work with all peace-loving and development-seeking countries to strengthen solidarity and cooperation, jointly meet challenges and continue to promote the building of a community with a shared future for mankind, he added.