In first trip abroad in new role, Qin stresses China’s firm support for continent’s development
Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat and Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang attend a project completion ceremony of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on Jan 11. DONG (JIANGHUI / XINHUA)
Peace in conflict-hit areas, mutual respect and pragmatic cooperation were high on the agenda of the visit to Ethiopia and the African Union’s headquarters by Qin Gang, China’s new foreign minister.
Ethiopia was the first leg of Qin’s Africa tour — his first trip abroad as foreign minister — from Jan 9 to 16. Qin was also scheduled to visit four other African nations — Gabon, Angola, Benin and Egypt.
On Jan 11, Qin addressed the press jointly with Chairperson of the African Union Commission Moussa Faki Mahamat at the organization’s headquarters in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia. Earlier that day, they held the eighth strategic dialogue between China and AU, and Qin put forward four proposals on the development of China-Africa relations.
First, he emphasized the need to speed up physical exchanges and sharing of visions between China and Africa.
China will continue to follow the principle of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith, uphold justice while pursuing shared interests, and expand exchanges and cooperation with Africa in various fields and at all levels, support South Africa in its successful BRICS presidency and Uganda in hosting a successful Non-Aligned Movement summit, Qin said.
China is ready to deepen exchanges and mutual learning on national governance and development experience with Africa, and firmly support each other on issues concerning their respective core interests and major concerns, Qin said, adding that this will lay a solid foundation for building a high-level China-Africa community with a shared future.
Second, Qin called for the deepening of friendly relations between China and the AU, adding that as China’s modernization drive provides new opportunities for Africa, it will continue to support the African Union in leading African countries on a development path suited to their national conditions.
He reiterated China’s readiness to further facilitate the synergy of its development strategy with those of African countries and the AU Commission, and help advance Africa’s integration.
China has taken the lead in supporting the AU’s membership in the Group of 20 and advocates a bigger role for the AU and African countries in the global governance system, Qin said.
Third, Qin said, greater efforts should be made to upgrade China-Africa cooperation, accelerating the implementation of the outcomes of the Eighth Ministerial Meeting of the FOCAC, continuing to expand trade with Africa, promoting high-quality development of China-Africa financing and investment cooperation, and broadening new drivers of growth in health, green development and digital economy to provide more support for Africa’s economic and social development.
Fourth, Qin noted the need to firmly safeguard solidarity and cooperation among developing countries.
He emphasized the imperative to uphold confidence and self-reliance, uphold the common values of humanity, oppose hegemonic, high-handed, bullying, and racially discriminatory acts, jointly uphold genuine multilateralism, promote democracy in international relations, raise the representation and voice of developing countries, especially African countries, at the United Nations Security Council and other international organizations, and work together to make the global governance system more just and equitable.
Observers said Qin’s visit not only gives a needed boost to political and economic ties, but also displays Beijing’s unchanged commitment to much-needed peace and prosperity in Africa.
Qin reaffirmed Beijing’s support for the AU joining the G20 grouping, saying that China is ready to further champion the interests of the vast number of developing countries.
Faki praised China’s support for Africa, particularly in areas such as the continent’s integration and interconnectivity.
Qin and Faki both attended the project completion ceremony of the Africa Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.
The project is another highlight of China-Africa cooperation, and China never writes a “blank check”, Qin said, noting that China will transfer the headquarters to African friends and the AU will take charge of its operations.
The building is a testimony of China’s always supporting Africa with tangible actions, he added.
Earlier, at a news conference in Addis Ababa on Jan 10, Qin reaffirmed China’s commitment to its Initiative of Peaceful Development in the Horn of Africa, which was first proposed by the nation at the beginning of last year to support countries seeking security and prosperity in the conflict-hit region.
China has provided food, vaccines and other humanitarian aid to Ethiopia, and it “will continue to do so” and actively participate in the reconstruction of conflict-affected areas, Qin said.
China calls on the international community to increase humanitarian assistance to Ethiopia and support the reconstruction and socioeconomic development of affected areas, he added.
On Jan 10, Qin met Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed, and also had a meeting with Demeke Mekonnen Hassen, the nation’s deputy prime minister and foreign minister.
The two countries have been actively co-building the Belt and Road, and China has remained the largest source of foreign direct investment and the largest trade partner of Ethiopia for several years.
