President Hu Jintao's eight-nation African tour was successful in
promoting friendly and cooperative ties between China and Africa,
Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing said on Saturday.
Hu traveled to Africa on a mission of friendship and
cooperation, marking another major event in Sino-African relations
following the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa
Cooperation (FOCAC) last November, Li told Chinese
journalists accompanying Hu on his African trip.
The huge success of President Hu's African tour will have
far-reaching consequences on future relations between China and
Africa, Li said.
The trip, beginning on January 30, took?President Hu to
Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Zambia, Namibia, South Africa, Mozambique
and the Seychelles.
China seeks friendship with Africa for generations to
come
Li said the China-Africa friendship was deeply-rooted and forged
through years of mutual support.
It is symbolized by Tazara, a railway built to link land-locked
Zambia with a port in Tanzania in the 1970s. It is reflected in the
warm feelings witnessed between Chinese medical teams in Africa and
their patients. It is embodied by African nations' steadfast
support for the restoration of China's legal rights in the UN.
During his trip,?Hu spoke widely on the Chinese people's
ever-lasting friendship with the African people, said Li.
President Hu further promised that the Chinese people would
never impose their ideology, social system or mode of development
on other countries, or carry out any activities detrimental to the
African people and their countries. These remarks met with warm
applause from audiences, stated China's top diplomat.
President Hu's African tour proves the popular conviction that
the China-Africa friendship will continue from one generation to
the next, according to the Chinese minister.
Implementing the Beijing summit outcome for the benefit
of the African people
During his visit, President Hu informed African leaders on
China's implementation of the eight steps unveiled during the FOCAC
Summit.
The measures will be carried out following the principles of
mutual benefit, friendly consultation, high efficiency and
pragmatism, the Chinese president said, adding the necessity for
them to cater to the needs of the African people.
During the trip, over 50 cooperation agreements were signed,
many involving methods of implementation for the FOCAC Summit
outcome, Li said.
The eight steps include China's pledge to double its assistance
to Africa by 2009. Specifically, China will provide US$3 billion in
preferential loans and US$2 billion in preferential buyer's credits
to Africa. It will also create development fund of US$5 billion
aimed at bolstering Chinese investment in Africa. Debt cancellation
is also among China's priorities in Africa.
Bright future for new China-Africa strategic partnership
has a bright future
At the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation,
Chinese and African leaders unanimously decided to pursue a new
China-Africa strategic partnership based on political equality and
common trust, mutually beneficial cooperation and cultural
exchanges, Li said.
Following on from this, President Hu and African leaders laid
out their joint plans for future development of China-Africa
relations.
Hu proposed that China and Africa should enhance exchanges,
promote common development, ramp up international affairs
consultation, increase personnel exchanges, jointly safeguard the
interests of developing countries and strive to build a harmonious
world of lasting peace and prosperity, according to Li.
African leaders spoke highly of China's Africa policy, hailing
it as "a new practice in international cooperation," and held it up
as a model for international cooperation, said Li.
African leaders agreed to President Hu Jintao's proposals for
developing China-Africa relations, announcing that strengthening
relations with China is of strategic importance to Africa and
serves the fundamental interests of its people, according to
Li.
China and Africa achieved great consensus on strengthening
multilateral friendly cooperation and promoting a new type of
China-Africa strategic partnership, said Li.
He quoted President Hu as saying in South Africa that a new
China-Africa strategic partnership was promised to a bright future,
through the great efforts of both sides.
The visit achieved the goals of cementing the traditional
China-Africa friendship, implementing the outcome of the Beijing
summit, expanding pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa,
and promoting common development, Li said, adding it marked an
important chapter in the history of China-Africa relations.
(Xinhua News Agency February 12, 2007)
