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