Story by Jonathan Marerwa
CHINA’s Foreign Minister, Wang Yi, has stated that his country and Africa have always enjoyed a strong bond, characterised by friendship, partnership, and brotherhood, with a shared future.
Mr Wang, who also serves as a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China’s Central Committee, made these remarks during a press conference in Beijing this Friday.
He noted that, under the guidance of President Xi Jinping and African leaders, the China-Africa relationship is currently at its most prosperous point in history.
Furthermore, he highlighted that China has established strategic partnerships with all African nations that maintain diplomatic ties with it, and that the China-Africa community, united by a shared future, has now reached an “all-weather” level.
Mr Wang emphasised that global modernisation cannot be achieved without African modernisation, stressing that the stability and development of Africa is crucial to the future of humanity.
He asserted that the world must listen to Africa and address its concerns, further noting that Africa is experiencing a new awakening, and countries should support the continent in forging a new path of self-reliance and self-strengthening.
This year marks the 25th anniversary of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC). Over the years, China has played a key role in assisting Africa, helping to construct or upgrade nearly 100,000 kilometres of roads and more than 10,000 kilometres 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 trade partner for 16 consecutive years.
Meanwhile, Mr Wang says China’s diplomacy will continue to provide strong strategic support for the country’s modernisation efforts by creating a favorable external environment.
He stated that China will facilitate easier exchanges by creating more convenient channels revealing that to date, China has unilaterally granted visa exemptions to 38 countries and extended the transit visa exemption to 240 hours for 54 countries.
This visa-free “circle of friends” is expected to grow, further enhancing the global popularity of “China Travel.”
Mr Wang added that China will launch more efficient foreign affairs services and build bridges for further opening up and cooperation.
He revealed that China will create a more optimised business environment, steadily expand institutional opening-up, and continue to expand independent opening-up in an orderly manner adding that the country will maintain unilateral opening-up to the least developed countries, ensuring that China remains the “first choice” for international cooperation.
