A solid new start for old China-Africa ties
Updated: 2015-12-01 08:22
By Yi Fan(China Daily)
|
||||||||
Tremendous changes have taken place both in China and Africa over the decades, yet the China-Africa relationship has grown stronger with the passage of time. Politically, equality and mutual respect is the defining feature of China-Africa relationship. As fellow victims of foreign aggression and colonization, both cherish peace and independence and respect the development paths each has chosen.
In 2013, on his first overseas trip since taking office, President Xi Jinping visited Africa and put forward the principles of sincerity, practical results, affinity and good faith, which have since become the guiding principles for China-Africa ties. President Xi called for striking the right balance between principles and interests, with greater emphasis on doing what is just and right in China's cooperation with Africa. This has set the tone for China-Africa cooperation.
Economically, complementarity and mutual benefit has been a key driving force for China-Africa relations. With its rich natural and human resources and huge potential market, Africa deserves much more than being a mere recipient of aid. For years, China's approach has been to not just "offer fish" to Africans, but to help Africans to "catch fish" by leveraging its own resources for self-sustaining development. As a result, China has been Africa's biggest trading partner for six years in a row.
Mutual help and mutual support are at the base of the China-Africa partnership. When the Ebola epidemic broke out in some African countries earlier this year, China was among the first nations to respond. Similarly, after the deadly Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, Equatorial Guinea donated 2 million ($2.19 million) to China-about one euro per person.
China has firmly supported African unity and has been finding African solutions to African problems. It has contributed to 16 UN peacekeeping missions with nearly 30,000 peacekeepers, the highest among the five permanent members of the UN Security Council.
- Global health entering new era: WHO chief
- Brazil's planning minister steps aside after recordings revelation
- Vietnam, US adopt joint statement on advancing comprehensive partnership
- European border closures 'inhumane': UN refugee agency
- Japan's foreign minister calls A-bombings extremely regrettable
- Fukushima impact unprecedented for oceans: US expert
- Stars of Lijiang River: Elderly brothers with white beards
- Wealthy Chinese children paying money to learn British manners
- Military-style wedding: Fighter jets, grooms in dashing uniforms
- Striking photos around the world: May 16 - May 22
- Robots help elderly in nursing home in east China
- Hanging in the air: Chongqing holds rescue drill
- 2.1-ton tofu finishes in two hours in central China
- Six things you may not know about Grain Buds
Most Viewed
Editor's Picks
Anti-graft campaign targets poverty relief |
Cherry blossom signal arrival of spring |
In pictures: Destroying fake and shoddy products |
China's southernmost city to plant 500,000 trees |
Cavers make rare finds in Guangxi expedition |
Cutting hair for Longtaitou Festival |
Today's Top News
Liang avoids jail in shooting death
China's finance minister addresses ratings downgrade
Duke alumni visit Chinese Embassy
Marriott unlikely to top Anbang offer for Starwood: Observers
Chinese biopharma debuts on Nasdaq
What ends Jeb Bush's White House hopes
Investigation for Nicolas's campaign
Will US-ASEAN meeting be good for region?
US Weekly
Geared to go |
The place to be |