Sino-African dialogue on peace, security vital

In 2016 and 2017, under the Peace and Development Trust Fund, China allocated more than $11 million for projects that included building African capacity to train police and soldiers for peacekeeping roles, regional operational analysis for peacekeeping missions, and support for the African Union initiative to manage conflicts in Africa.

In August 2017, China opened its first military base in Djibouti, with around 1 000 soldiers to pursue a peacekeeping mission in the region until 2026.

The Chinese military base has boosted maritime security, facilitated efforts to fight terrorism along the vulnerable Somali coastline, and safeguarded maritime routes across the Indian Ocean.

In addition, the China-Africa Defence and Security Forum held in June last year heightened the need for a collective regional security approach.

In President Xi’s keynote address at the 2018 Beijing summit and in its ensuing plan of action, China pledged to channel investment toward a China-Africa Peace and Security Fund as well as military assistance and 50 programmes on law and order, peacekeeping, anti-piracy and counter-terrorism.

The basis of China’s relations with Africa its formal commitment to sovereignty, non-interference, equality and mutual respect has formed an attractive contrast to that of the West.

China is fully committed to its values of engagement: playing a just, impartial and positive role to help Africa build up its own peacekeeping capacity; addressing root causes as well as symptoms of major challenges; and pursuing win-win cooperation.

Africa is also eager to identify relevant measures for the implementation of the China-Africa peace and security initiative, in line with Africa’s current situation and actual needs.

The Dialogue on the Implementation of China-Africa Peace and Security Initiative was a suitable move towards the implementation of the peace and security initiatives agreed upon at the

2018 summit. China Daily ◆