‘Equality’ key to good relationship with Africa

Beijing summit seen as chance to jointly protect developing nations

Veteran diplomat Liu Guijin, 73, has focused his career on China-Africa relations since 1981.

Liu was ambassador to South Africa and Zimbabwe and also worked in China’s embassies in Kenya and Ethiopia as a secretary or a counselor.

He said he has often been asked how the Chinese-African relationship remains stable amid the changeable international situation.

The answer is “equality, mutual benefit and common development”, said Liu, who also was China’s first special representative on African affairs.

These are the basic principles of the China-Africa relationship, Liu said in an interview with China Daily. He added that it is different from Western countries, which hold a disparaging attitude toward Africa.

China sees itself as a friend and partner to African countries, while Western powers see themselves only as “donors”, Liu said.

“We never prioritize China’s benefits over Africa’s benefits when it comes to our relationship. We have sought win-win cooperation with Africa,” he added.

Hailing the Forum on ChinaAfrica Cooperation as an effective mechanism of friendly consultation and cooperation, Liu said the forum has greatly promoted the development of China-Africa relations since its establishment in 2000.

“Thanks to the concerted efforts made by China and African countries, political trust has been enhanced and economic partnership has become much closer,” Liu said, adding the forum has become a “banner” for international cooperation with Africa.

The third FOCAC summit will be held in Beijing on Monday and Tuesday under the theme of “China and Africa: Toward an Even Stronger Community with a Shared Future Through WinWin Cooperation”.

Liu said the Beijing summit will open a new chapter in the partnership between China and Africa.

The summit takes place against the backdrop of rising unilateralism and trade protectionism, Liu said, and China and African countries can utilize the summit to discuss how to safeguard the interests of developing countries.

Trade volume between China and Africa reached $170 billion last year, which was more than 15 times the amount in 2000, according to the Ministry of Commerce.

Liu said the China-Africa relationship is not just about economic and trade ties, but is far more than that.

At the FOCAC Johannesburg summit in 2015, President Xi Jinping announced a 10-point plan for cooperation between China and Africa, which included industrialization, agricultural modernization, infrastructure, poverty reduction, green development, peace and security and people-to-people exchanges.

Africa is challenged by inadequate infrastructure, lack of professional and skilled personnel and funding shortages, Liu said.

“So the two sides should avail themselves of the summit to discuss alignment of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative with the African Union’s Agenda 2063 as well as the development strategies of the African countries to achieve synergized growth, in particular, helping Africa to achieve industrialization, agricultural modernization and sustainable self-development,” he said.