By Li Zhaoxing
The Second Ministerial Meeting of the China-Africa Cooperation
Forum will be held in December 2003 in the Ethiopian capital, Addis
Ababa. This is a significant event in the history of Sino-African
friendship, as it carries forward the past and opens the way into
the future.
Sino-African friendship has a long history. Friendly contacts
and exchanges between China and Africa date back to the second
century BC In 762 Tang Dynasty explorer Du Huan traveled to Egypt,
the Sudan, Ethiopia and other African countries, recording his
impressions in his travel journal, Jing Xing Ji (Record
of Experiences and Travels). In the first half of the 15th
century, famous Chinese navigator Zheng He set sail on the high
seas seven times, and four times landed on the eastern coast of
Africa. The treasures his fleet brought back from Africa included
giraffes and zebras, which the Chinese people regarded as
auspicious animals symbolic of good fortune and happiness. On
several occasions, Somalia and certain other African countries also
sent envoys to visit China.
The founding of the People's Republic of China in 1949 marked a
new era of Sino-African relations. In the 1950s, on achieving
national independence and shaking off the shackles of colonialism,
many African countries established diplomatic relations with China.
Chairman Mao Zedong received visiting African state leaders on
several occasions. When meeting with then Zambian President Kenneth
David Kaunda in February 1974, Chairman Mao put forward his famous
"Three Worlds" theory. On his three visits to Africa in the 1960s,
Premier Zhou Enlai raised the five principles guiding China's
relations with African and Arab countries and eight principles
underlying China's economic and technological aid to foreign
countries. These principles acted as guidelines for the development
of Sino-African relations.
Deng Xiaoping maintained concern about peace and development in
Africa, saying that African countries should explore a development
road that suited their particular situation.
On President Jiang Zemin's first visit to Africa in May 1996, he
made a speech at the headquarters of the Organization of African
Unity putting forth the five proposals of sincerity, friendship,
equality, unity and cooperation, common development, and facing the
future regarding Sino-African relations.
In 2000 the First Ministerial Meeting of the China-Africa
Cooperation Forum was held in Beijing. Both China and African
countries determined to develop new partnership relations in the
21st century based on long-term stability, equality and mutual
benefit.
China and Africa have made considerable accomplishments
throughout their cooperation. The peoples of China and Africa have
struggled against colonialism and imperialism and striven for
national independence. They support one another in the common cause
of safeguarding national sovereignty and developing national
economy. China has made its contribution to the political
liberation of African countries by providing both moral support and
material aid. China and Africa have strengthened their consultative
coordination in international affairs and in protecting the rights
and interests of developing countries. They are now a model for
South-South unity and cooperation.
Of the 76 countries that voted for the restoration of China's
legitimate status in the United Nations in 1971, African countries
numbered 26. China, on the other hand, actively supports African
countries seeking to consolidate their independence, develop their
national economy and promote social progress. Since 1956 China has
provided substantial aid to 53 African countries and helped them
build over 700 projects in the sphere of economic and social
development. Sino-African economic and trade cooperation has
progressed rapidly, the Sino-African trade volume having increased
from US$817 million in 1979 to US$12.389 billion in 2002.
Cooperation between Chinese and African businesses has flourished,
and a large number of Chinese enterprises have entered Africa and
made their contributions to local economic prosperity. China and
Africa have also seen continuous expansion and enrichment of
exchanges and cooperation in the fields of culture, education,
science and technology, health and sports.
The development of Sino-African friendship and cooperation over
the past half a century indicates vital and distinctive
characteristics of Sino-African cooperation.
First, Sino-African friendship is profound, and cooperation has
a solid basis. Trailbreakers in the railway aid project in Tanzania
effectively erected an historic monument to Sino-African friendship
and cooperation. The joy expressed by African friends on
restoration of China's legitimate seat in the United Nations was
truly moving. Sino-African friendship is cherished deeply in the
hearts of both peoples and is a solid base for their continued
cooperation. China and Africa take a similar stand in important
international issues, and have the same fundamental interests. We
both believe that peace and development are the themes of the
current era, despite the challenges they face. We both advocate
democracy in international relations and protection of the world's
diversity. We both call for strengthened South-South cooperation
and South-North exchanges in order to realize the common prosperity
and progress of humankind.
Second, China-Africa cooperation is a form of South-South
cooperation built on the basis of equality and mutual benefit. The
two sides have long followed the principles of sincere friendship,
mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and forged a
relationship wherein impoverished friends help each other.
China-Africa cooperation is therefore cited as epitomizing
South-South cooperation.
Third, China-Africa friendship and cooperation have broad
development prospects. African countries are exploring development
modes that suit their national situation and actively promoting
regional integration. They are overcoming difficulties and marching
towards their goal of realizing Africa's revival. The Chinese
people, on the other hand, are accelerating their construction of
an overall better-off society. China-Africa mutual-benefit
cooperation is mutually supplementary and has great potential. The
Chinese and African population account for one-third of the world
total and half that of the developing world. Common development of
the two sides through effective cooperation is without doubt an
important contribution to the prosperity and progress of
humankind.
In order to adjust to changes in the international situation and
seek common development, China and African countries united in
establishing the China-Africa Cooperation Forum mechanism in
Beijing in the golden autumn of October 2000. Over the past three
years, progress has been made in fulfilling mechanism construction
and follow-up action, making the Forum an effective platform for
the two sides to strengthen consultation and cooperation under a
new situation.
Strengthening friendly cooperative relations with developing
countries, particularly African countries, has always been an
important part of China's independent foreign peace policy. We
believe that close cooperation between Chinese and African
countries will ensure a successful and fruitful Second Ministerial
Meeting of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum, and that it will
forge a new chapter in Sino-African friendship and
cooperation.
Li Zhaoxing is Foreign Minister of the People's Republic
of China. --Ed.
(China.org.cn December 11, 2003)