Chinese President Hu Jintao's Africa tour takes him to Morocco,
Nigeria and Kenya which are in the north, west and east of the
continent. The important visit by the Chinese leader will
definitely promote the Sino-Afro relations.
The year of 2006 marks the 50th anniversary of the beginning of
the diplomatic ties between China and Africa. For the past half
century, the mutual trust and support between the two sides in
political fields have led to the "all-weather friendship" while the
mutual help on equal basis economically has achieved fruitful
results.
In the world arena, China has been trying to draw more attention
of the international community to the peace and development of
Africa. The incumbent Chinese leadership attaches great importance
to expanding cooperation and friendship with Africa. The
China-Africa Cooperation Forum has become a mechanism for dialogues
and a platform for cooperation.
47 African countries have diplomatic relations with China. The
bilateral trade between China and Africa soared to US$39.74 billion
last year from US$12 million in 1950. The China-Africa partnership
is in the best time in history.
However, the further cooperation and China's stronger
competitiveness in this region have no doubt challenged the
interest of some countries which then cast suspicious and scared
eyes on China. A speculation about the so-called "China treat" has
been created.
Western media hypes up China's "economic colonialism" in Africa,
cooking up stories about China's oil-and-nonferrous metal motivated
investment increase in Africa and playing up the "threat" on local
business and labor by China's textile exports or the "menace" on
the local economy by China's imports of raw materials and exports
of manufacturing products.
None of those assertions which sound mindful of the interest of
the African people are based on facts or go with the tides. Behind
them is the intention of sowing discord between China and
Africa.
?
As it is known to all, western powers, not China, colonized Africa
and looted resources there in the history. There is no historical
feuds or interest conflicts between China and African countries.
The traditional friendship between China and Africa has a long
history and is well-established.
China pursues the idea of peaceful development and advocates the
democracy in the international relations. It adheres to the
principle of respect to sovereignty, equality and mutual benefit
when it develops relations with African countries. China adopts and
practices fundamentally differently from what colonialism does.
The Sino-African friendship not only benefits people of the two
sides, but also promotes the world's peace and development.
Nowadays, China's aids without political conditions stretch through
the whole African continent and are highly praised by African
governments and people. China has also joint the world
peace-keeping efforts in Africa.
Mr. Charles Asilia Sanga, Tanzanian Ambassador to China, said at
a Sino-African business forum that the cooperation on resource
development and infrastructure has generated more jobs in Africa
and higher income for African people.
He praised China as Africa's real friend who has played a
decisive role in helping the continent's independence struggle and
freedom from apartheid. He expressed his hope for more aid from the
government, enterprises and people of China in Africans' struggle
for prosperity.
(People's Daily Online April 27, 2006)
