Countries Should Support Africa In Exploring New Development Path Of Self-Reliance, Self-Strengthening

By Aidoghie Paulinus

Member of Political Bureau of CPC Central Committee and Chinese  Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, has said  China and Africa are always good friends, good partners and good brothers with a shared future.

Wang also said under the guidance of President Xi Jinping and African leaders, China-Africa relationship is now at its best in history.

He spoke during a press conference on China’s foreign policy and external relations on the sidelines of the third session of the 14th National People’s Congress (NPC) in Beijing, China.

The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) asked Wang  how China successfully held a summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in Beijing last year, and his first overseas visit this year to Africa.

Wang was also asked by NAN  how China planned to implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit and how will China help Africa in achieving development and revitalization.

Wang further said China has established strategic partnership with all African countries, having diplomatic ties with China.

“The China-Africa community with a shared future has been elevated to an ‘all-weather’ level. This year marks the 25th anniversary of FOCAC. Over the past 25 years, China has helped Africa build or upgrade nearly 100,000 kilometers of roads, and more than 10,000 kilometers of railways. In the past three years alone, Chinese enterprises created more than 1.1 million new jobs in Africa. China has remained Africa’s largest trading partner for 16 consecutive years,” Wang said.

The Chinese Foreign Minister also said to African brothers and sisters, China-Africa cooperation is visible, tangible and truly beneficial.

“Last year, a Gambian farmer sent a bag of rice he grew all the way to Hunan Province in China to show respect to Yuan Longping, the father of hybrid rice. It is China’s hybrid rice that has helped end hunger and bring hope to them. Stories like these are happening in Africa every day.

“Africa is a fertile land of hope of the 21st century. There will be no global modernization without African modernization. The stability and development of Africa is vital to the future of humanity, and the world must listen to Africa and heed its concerns. Africa is going through a new awakening, and countries should support Africa in exploring a new development path of self-reliance and self-strengthening,” Wang also said.