Africa is a big stage for international cooperation, not an arena for major power rivalry, China’s top official, Qin Gang says

17 January 2023

Chinese-foreign-minister-Quin-Gang-with-AUC-Chairoperson-Moussa-Mahamat-Faki.png

Share this story

The Pan Afrikanist watchman

Africa should be a stage for international cooperation, not an arena for major-force rivalry, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang has said.

Qin was responding to questions during a joint press conference he addressed with the Chairperson of the African Union (AU) Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat on January 11, 2023.

Qin Gang noted that Africa is an emerging continent full of hope, vigour and vitality. Without peace and development of Africa, the world would not be in stability and prosperity. Africa needs solidarity and cooperation, rather than bloc confrontation.

No country or individual has the power to force African countries to pick sides. Africa should be a stage for international cooperation, not an arena for major-force rivalry, the Chinese foreign minister said.

If there is competition, it should be about who does more practical things for the peace and development of Africa and who helps Africa have more representation and say in the international governance agenda.

Qin Gang said that China is glad to see any country truly help Africa realise peace and development with sincerity.

Qin Gang said that the profound traditional friendship between China and Africa, rooted in mutual support between both sides in the fight for national liberation and originating from mutual help in the course of pursuing development, is a friendly relationship of cooperation featuring sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith based on mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit and win-win results.

Having withstood the test of the changing international landscape, it has grown from strength to strength, and become unbreakable.

Since the beginning of the new century, China has built in Africa more than 6,000 kilometers of railways, 6,000 kilometers of roads, nearly 20 ports, and over 80 large-scale power facilities, and funded over 130 hospitals and clinics, over 170 schools, 45 sports venues and over 500 agricultural projects.

These tangible outcomes have played an important role in advancing economic and social development and improving people’s livelihood in Africa, demonstrated the true colour of China-Africa relations and the defining colour of China-Africa friendship, and been praised by African countries and people.

If African friends wish, China is also ready to carry out trilateral or multilateral cooperation with any other country in Africa to jointly make greater contributions to the development and rejuvenation of Africa.

Asked about China’s view on the second U.S.-Africa Leaders’ Summit, Qin Gang said that as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, China and the United States shoulder important responsibility for world peace, security and development.

The China-United States relationship should not be about a competitive one or a zero-sum game that enlarges one’s own gain at the expense of the other; otherwise, it will only hurt both sides and even the world.

China and the United States should respect each other, coexist in peace, and pursue win-win cooperation, and should not harm third-party interests.

This corresponds with the trend of the times and the common expectations of the international community.

Qin Gang Holds the 8th China-AU Strategic Dialogue with AUC Chairperson Moussa Faki Mahamat

On January 11, 2023 Foreign Minister Qin Gang held the 8th China-African Union Strategic Dialogue with Chairperson of the African Union Commission (AUC) Moussa Faki Mahamat at the headquarters of the African Union (AU) in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Qin Gang said, the AU is a pacesetter for strength through unity among African countries and for solidarity and cooperation among developing countries. In recent years, African integration has gained strong momentum and Africa’s collective influence on international affairs has been growing.

China extends congratulations on this. Qin Gang expressed his belief that the AU will surely lead African countries towards making greater achievements in their journey of development and revitalisation.

Qin Gang said that China has always prioritised Africa in its diplomacy, and inheriting and carrying forward the China-Africa friendship has become a glorious tradition and a defining feature of China’s diplomacy.

At present, China and the AU have maintained a sound momentum of cooperation, constantly enhanced political mutual trust and supported each other on issues concerning respective core interests and major concerns.

Qin Gang said China will continue to be a development partner for common growth with Africa and work together to build a China-Africa community with a shared future in the new era.

China has taken the lead in supporting the AU’s admission to the G20, and supporting African countries’ greater representation and voice at the UN Security Council and other international organisations to safeguard the common interests of developing countries.

China will work with Africa to promote the common values of humanity and uphold true multilateralism.

Following the talks, the two sides signed cooperation documents, including the economic and technical agreement on the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC), and jointly attended the inauguration ceremony of the Africa CDC Headquarters.

(C) Chinese Embassy Weekly Newsletter

Last Posts

President Putin announces Easter ceasefire

President of Russia Vladimir Putin announces Easter ceasefire

Share this story

Share this storyDuring a meeting at the Kremlin with the Chief of the General Staff of Russia’s Armed Forces Valery Gerasimov President Vladimir Putin declared that the Russian Side is ceasing all military action starting…

17 January 2023

On April 17, 2025, Russia's Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a telephone conversation

Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov has a phone conversation with his US counterpart, Marco Rubio

Share this story

Share this storyOn April 17, 2025, Russia’s Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov and the United States Secretary of State Marco Rubio had a telephone conversation. Secretary Rubio, who is currently in Paris, informed the Russian side…

17 January 2023

In the first installment of the Two Shores Dialogue series, two journalists — Ma Jiaying from China and Héribert Adjovi from Africa — exchange insights on the pressing issues of our time: rising trade protectionism, the shifting global order, and the long-term consequences of tariff wars. Reflecting on the legacy of the Bandung Conference, they advocate for renewed solidarity among the Global South, grounded in the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence. A powerful, thoughtful dialogue that bridges continents and visions.

Beyond the tariff crisis, it’s time to take a fair look at globalisation… 70 years after the Bandung Conference

Share this story

Share this story‘A LOOK FROM BOTH SIDES’ is first and foremost an interesting Dialogue between two Friends, two eminent Journalists and a crossed vision of two media professionals, one Chinese and the other African (Beninese)…

17 January 2023

South-Africas-Government-of-Natiomall-Unity-on-the-brink-of-collapse-Picture-credit-Malawi-24.

THERE’S A SENSE THAT SA’S GNU IS TEETERING ON THE EDGE COLLAPSE

Share this story

Share this storyBy ABBEY MAKOE By all accounts, South Africa’s conundrum that is the Government of National Unity (GNU) will likely fester into a debilitating wound before it gets healed anytime soon. The revelation of…

17 January 2023

The world has now become irreversibly multipolar, a reality America’s ruling elites are refusing to accept.Photo | Mandar Pardika

US-China trade war: Standing up to the playground bully

Share this story

Share this storyToday’s China is not yesterday’s Soviet Union. Nor is Trump’s America the sole superpower. Anyone trying to push back the clock of history will get hurt https://www.newindianexpress.com/author/sudheendra-kulkarni The global tariff ‘war’ unleashed by…

17 January 2023

Panelists speak during the "Critical Raw Materials in the Age of Competition" session held on the sidelines of the Antalya Diplomacy Forum, in Antalya, Turkiye on April 12, 2025.

Critical raw materials in age of competition discussed at Antalya Diplomacy Forum

Share this story

Share this storyPanel addresses geopolitical, economic, strategic importance of underground resources Sercan Irkin and Zehra Nur Celik  |13.04.2025 – Update : 13.04.2025 ANTALYA, Türkiye The “Critical Raw Materials in the Age of Competition” panel was…

17 January 2023

Related Stories