Chinese diplomat says China-Africa relations based on equality and mutual-trust
China-Africa relations is anchored on equality; mutual-trust; friendship; economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchanges, Chinese Ambassador, Mr Gong Jianzhong said at a reception in Accra on Wednesday to mark 61 years of the People’s Republic of China, which falls on 1st October 2010.
He said his country through the Forum for China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) has entered into a strategic partnership with Africa since the Beijing Summit in 2006, adding that the Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao on September 22 2010 announced a six-point assistance package to developing countries at the United Nations High Level Meeting on the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) held in New York.
Under the package China would exempt 50 least developed and heavily indebted countries of interest-free loans due in 2010.
He said China in the next five years would build 200 schools; dispatch 3,000 each of medical and agriculture experts; offer scholarships to train 80,000 professionals in other fields and give zero-tariff treatment to more products from developing countries.
Mr Gong said China would stick to the path of peaceful development, adding that history has proved that China’s development brought opportunities to the world and a better-off China always benefited the whole world.
“A China devoted to peace and development; full of vitality and daring to take responsibility will always move forward together with the world. We are ready to further deepen China-Africa cooperation in the political; economic and cultural fields; with a view to writing a more glorious new chapter for friendly cooperation between China and Africa in general and China-Ghana cooperation in particular,” he said.
On China-Ghana relations Mr Gong said this year marked the 50th anniversary of Ghana-China Diplomatic relations, adding that China regarded Ghana as a reliable and trustworthy friend and cited the recent visit of President John Evans Atta Mills to China.
He pledged that China would work closely with the Ghanaian side “for effective implementation of the consensus reached by our top Leaders and related cooperation agreements, so as to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation between our two countries. China is ready to join hands with Ghana in the promotion of our respective socio-economic development and improvement of our people’s livelihoods”.
Mr Kwesi Ahwoi, Minister of Food and Agriculture, congratulated the Government and People of the Republic of China on the occasion of the 61st anniversary and pledged Ghana’s commitment to continue to cooperate with China for the mutual benefit of both countries.
Source: GNA