By Lü Fuyuan
Since the founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949,
the three generations of Chinese leadership, respectively headed by
Mao Zedong, Deng Xiaoping and Jiang Zemin, have always attached
great importance to Sino-African relations and economic and trade
cooperation. The combined efforts of the Chinese and African
governments and businesses concerned have enabled a gradual
increase in bilateral trade. In the early days of the founding of
the PRC in 1949, only a few African countries had trading contacts
with China. But the independence and liberation movement in Africa
from the late 1950s to the 1970s brought independence to many
African countries. They established diplomatic relations with China
that laid the political foundation for later economic and trade
contacts between China and Africa. Implementation of the reform and
opening policy in the 1980s and China's greater national strength
helped to stimulate Sino-African trade. The two sides have since
extended and strengthened their scope of cooperation. In the 21st
century, Sino-African trade relations have been further improved
and pluralized to contribute to their continuing mutual economic
development.
Sino-African trade has seen a sharp increase in recent years.
China maintains economic and trade contacts with 59 African
countries and regions, and has signed bilateral trade agreements
with more than 40 of them. Sino-African trade volume has since 2000
exceeded US$10 billion. From January to July 2003, the gross
China-Africa import and export volume reached US$10.23 billion,
representing a 59.3 percent increase over the same period the
previous year, and one 21 percent higher than the national import
and export rate of increase.
China has gradually expanded its investment in Africa, and
projects in trade, processing, resource development, transportation
and communications and agriculture are spread over 54 African
countries and regions. By the end of June 2003, the Chinese
Ministry of Commerce had given approval to 602 Chinese enterprises
to invest a total US$1.173 billion in Africa. To date, China has
signed Agreements on Encouragement and Reciprocal Protection of
Investment with 22 African countries, and Agreements on Avoiding
Double Taxation with 8 others.
Chinese contracted projects in Africa have been growing
steadily. The number of major projects has increased and their
technological content upgraded. They are normally in the fields of
construction, petrochemicals, power construction, transportation,
communications, water conservancy and industrial construction. The
many large-scale and high quality projects undertaken by Chinese
enterprises in Africa have won high praise from the African people
and their governments. By the end of June 2003, China had signed
labor contracts with African countries worth US$24.27 billion with
Africa and sent 65,000 Chinese labors to work there, realizing a
turnover of US$17.2 billion.
China's aid and assistance to 53 African countries since 1956
has brought obvious results. It has constructed more than 700
projects in 48 of the African countries. They cover such fields as
agriculture, fishing, livestock breeding, power construction, water
conservancy, communications, education, radio and TV broadcasting,
health care and food processing. China has also provided material
and technological support and helped to train managerial and
technical personnel for Africa.
In a speech at the Organization of African Unity, former Chinese
President Jiang Zemin announced: "China is willing to consolidate
and develop a long-term stable cooperation relationship with
African countries in the 21st century under the Five Principles of
Peaceful Coexistence." He expressed the Chinese people's sincere
and decisive attitude towards deepening their friendship with the
African people, and stated that the Chinese Government will
continue its economic and trade cooperation with Africa on the
principals of equality and mutual benefit, diversified forms,
efficiency and common development. China is the largest developing
country in the world, and the African continent is where the
largest number of developing countries is gathered. Cooperation
between the two sides has great potential for further development
that will supplement their respective economies. Africa has rich
natural resources and huge markets, and African countries are eager
to further their economic and trade relations with China, a country
with comparatively powerful economic strength, advanced technology,
managerial expertise, competitive commodities and many business
opportunities. In the face of economic globalization, Sino-African
economic and trade relations should and will be closer, stronger
and more active in all fields. The Chinese Government will take
practical measures to expand its imports and exports to Africa, to
undertake more investment and cooperation projects in Africa, to
continue to its capacity assistance to Africa, and to extend its
cooperation in agriculture, infrastructure construction, natural
resource exploration and human resources development.
The First China-Africa Cooperation Forum Ministerial Meeting
2000 was successfully held in Beijing in October 2000 to
consolidate and enhance longstanding friendly relations. This was a
milestone in the China-Africa friendly relationship and will take
economic and trade cooperation between them to a new historical
stage. The Chinese Government has set up the China-side Follow-up
Action Committee composed of members from 21 Chinese ministries and
commissions to implement decisions made at the forum. China had
reduced and exempted 156 debts of 31 African countries by the end
of June 2002, thereby fulfilling in advance its pledge to reduce or
exempt 10 billion yuan worth of debts owed by African countries to
China. This won high commendation in Africa.
The Second Ministerial Meeting of the China-Africa Cooperation
Forum will be held in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, in December
2003. Important events will take place during the forum, including
the Chinese and African Entrepreneurs Conference, the unveiling
ceremony of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum Monument and the
China-Africa Friendly Cooperation Achievement Photo Exhibition.
Chinese and African state leaders will attend the forum, and
government delegations of the member countries will be headed by
foreign ministers and ministers in charge of international economic
cooperation.
This will be the first visit to Africa by the new Chinese state
leader and the first ministerial meeting held in Africa since the
forum mechanism was set up. Hence it is of far-reaching
significance. China attaches high importance to the Forum, and has
made full preparation for it. As one of the two honorary chairmen
of the Follow-up Action Committee of China-Africa Cooperation
Forum, and on behalf of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce I wish the
Second Ministerial Meeting of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum
success.
Lü Fuyuan is Minister of Commerce of the People's Republic
of China. --Ed.
(China.org.cn December 11, 2003)