Envoy of Friendship
Veteran diplomat with a lifetime devotion to promoting China-africa ties
As the Communist Party of China (CPC) celebrates the 100th anniversary of its founding, the Central Committee of the Party has decided to award for the first time the July 1 Medal to Party members who have made outstanding contributions to the Party and the people of China.
Among the 29 nominees for the paramount honor for Party members is Liu Guijin, a veteran diplomat who has devoted most of his life to diplomacy with Africa.
Born in August 1945 in Yuncheng, Shandong Province, Liu became a Party member in August 1971. Much of his roughly 40-year career was focused on Africa, and he continues to contribute to China-africa partnership in his 70s.
Liu’s contributions included an active role in the establishment of the Forum on Chinaafrica Cooperation (FOCAC) mechanism and in promoting peace in Sudan as the first special representative of the Chinese Government on African affairs.
Meaningful Career
Liu said his first impression about Africa was its strong support to China. On October 25, 1971, the 26th UN General Assembly passed Resolution 2758, restoring the legal seat of the People’s Republic of China in the UN. The adoption of this resolution couldn’t be achieved without the help of African countries. Of the 76 affirmative votes, 26 were cast by African countries.
Liu witnessed the historical moment on a black-and-white television. He became a staff member of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs the next year. However, he had to wait for about a decade to engage in diplomacy with Africa.
In 1981, he was assigned to the Chinese Embassy in Kenya and worked in the country for five years, first as an attaché, and then the third secretary and the second secretary. His next stop in Africa was the Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia where he worked as a political counsellor for two
years. At the end of 1995, he was assigned to the Chinese Embassy in Zimbabwe and worked as an ambassador for the first time.
When he returned to Beijing in 1998 to serve as Director General of the Department of African Affairs of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, he had the chance to take part in the launch of the FOCAC. At the time, China was initiating the first ministerial conference of the FOCAC. Liu was appointed as the secretary general of the preparatory committee and the administrative committee for the forum.
In 2001, he was assigned to South Africa and served as ambassador in the country for six years. During this period, he had unforgettable experiences interacting with two former South African leaders.
In 2002, Nelson Mandela unexpectedly proposed to talk to the then Chinese President Jiang Zemin on the phone, in a bid to persuade the U.S. to give up its aggression against Iraq.
Liu visited Mandela to help arrange the call. In an interview with China.org.cn, he recalled how he met with the legendary African leader.
“Mandela was having lunch with the premier of North West Province. He saw me coming and said, ‘My distinguished guest is here.’ He ended his lunch and took me to the small reception room to chat,” Liu said.
After the call, Mandela chatted with Liu for a while, sharing his special feelings for the Chinese revolution. Mandela told Liu how he had celebrated China’s National Day when he was in the prison at Robben Island by turning packing paper of cigarette boxes into a five-star red flag, China’s national flag. Liu said the affection of the African people toward China is precious.
Liu also mentioned an interesting story about another South African leader Thabo Mbeki. In a state visit to China in 2006, Mbeki expressed a wish to buy some books at the Xinhua Bookstore. This was the first time a foreign leader visiting China expressed such an interest.
Mbeki selected a dozen books including The Scholars, a classic Chinese masterpiece. He explained his intentions at the luncheon afterward. He said that to learn from China, one must first understand China, and it is impossible to understand China by reading Western books. So, when he came to
China, he bought a few books to learn more about the country. Upon his return to South Africa, he published an article titled At the Heavenly Gate in Beijing Hope Is Born!
Liu said while Mandela regarded China’s liberation as an inspiration to people under oppression, Mbeki saw China’s development as a hope for the people in Africa and even the world. “It is generations of revolutionists and leaders who have forged and developed China-africa friendship which has been so deeply rooted in the hearts of the people,” he said.
Return to Africa
In April 2007, Liu stepped down as China’s ambassador to South Africa and was immediately appointed as the first special representative of the Chinese Government on African affairs at the age of 62. His main missions were to mediate on the Darfur issue and to respond to slanders against China on the issue.
“I have two missions: to let the world understand China’s principles and stand on the Darfur issue, and to facilitate China’s contribution to the peaceful resolution of the issue,” Liu said in an interview with Beijing Daily.
Two weeks after the appointment, Liu visited Sudan. With the help of the Sudanese foreign minister, Liu met with then Sudanese President Omar al-bashir, who later arranged a special plane to send him to Darfur.
In Darfur, Liu visited the refugee camp and attended a mass rally of thousands of locals. At the rally, he expressed China’s stand, including China’s support for a peaceful resolution through talks, sympathy and concern for the humanitarian disasters suffered by the people of Darfur, and assistance to Darfur ranging from ambulances to farming tools and generators.
On February 7, 2011, with the mediation of China and other countries, as well as international organizations, Al-bashir announced the independence of South Sudan following a referendum. Although this didn’t bring a complete resolution to the issue, it was a great start.
After retirement, Liu kept working as a researcher and lecturer in training programs for Africans. “The China-africa friendship needs to be carried forward by the younger generations,” he said.
It is worth mentioning that many of these African students trained in China became leaders of African countries after returning home.
“The moment I set foot on the land of Africa, I fell in love with this continent. I will never abandon my work with Africa,” Liu said in an interview with People’s Daily. CA