China, Africa envision security cooperation
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China also said it will continue to strengthen its cooperation with the AU and sub-regional organizations and institutions in Africa, support the AU's leading role in resolving African issues, and take an active part in UN peacekeeping operations in Africa in the Forum On China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Action Plan (2007-2009) in 2006.
The Chinese government made a promise again in Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Sharm el-Sheikh Action Plan (2010-2012) in 2009. It pledged it would continue to support the UN Security Council in playing a constructive role in solving conflicts in Africa and continue to support and participate in UN peacekeeping missions. It intended to strengthen cooperation with countries concerned in the UN Peace Building Commission and support countries in their post-war reconstruction processes.
At the same time, the Chinese government appreciates the practice of African solving their own problems. China will continue to support the efforts of the AU, other regional organizations and countries concerned to solve regional conflicts, and will intensify cooperation with African countries in peacekeeping theory research, peacekeeping training and exchanges and in supporting the building of peacekeeping capacity in Africa.
China has actively participated in peacekeeping missions in Africa, which has become a major area of Chinese peacekeeping activities. China has sent tens of thousands of people to participate in 12 UN peacekeeping missions in Africa. China first sent an organized peacekeeping force to the DRC in December 2002. In the past three years, China has sent 6,281 soldiers and police. Currently, 1,629 Chinese work in six UN peacekeeping areas of Africa.
In addition, the Chinese government also offers financial aid to Africa. Premier Wen Jiabao provided $1 million in cash to the Africa Union to support the peacekeeping mission in Sudan during his visit to the DRC in June 2006. China donated $300,000 to the AU's Somali peacekeeping mission in 2008, and a check of $400,000 in August 2009.
The Somali escort is a good example of Chinese-African anti-terrorism cooperation. The Chinese navy has sent six naval escort flotillas to the Gulf of Aden.
Promoting China-Africa security cooperation is an indispensable choice for both sides. It has become an important part of the strategic cooperation and will lay a solid foundation for the development of mutual political trust between the two.
The author is a researcher of China Institute of International Studies.
(This article was translated by Ren Zhongxi.)
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