China: Wolfowitz's criticisms of China's African loans "groundless"
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-10-25 08:45 BEIJING - China said on Tuesday criticisms
that its loans to Africa failed to take into account local human rights
situations were "groundless" and "unacceptable".
Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Liu Jianchao made the remarks at a regular
press conference when asked to comment on World Bank President Paul Wolfowitz's
reported remarks that China had ignored the human rights situation in African
countries when providing loans.
Liu said that China's economic and trade cooperation with African countries
is carried out on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, adding that it
contributes to improving African people's living standards, and their economic
and social development.
China has always adopted a policy of non-interference in the internal affairs
of other countries, Liu noted.
According to China's Ministry of Commerce statistics, China's total
investment in Africa have reached 6.27 billion US dollars. Over 720 major
projects have been completed in 49 African countries with Chinese assistance,
and 58 projects have been launched in 26 African countries with preferential
loans from China.
China has waived 10.9 billion yuan (RMB) of debt owed by
31 heavily indebted and least developed countries in Africa, and extends
zero-tariff treatment to certain imports from 28 least developed countries in
Africa. China has also trained over 14,600 African personnel in various
fields.
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