Foreign and Military Affairs

China to forge new strategic partnership with Africa

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-01-07 01:44

NAIROBI：Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi, who was visiting Nairobi, capital of Kenya, said Wednesday China-Africa relations are enjoying broad popular support and a solid political foundation and the two sides should forge a new type of strategic partnership to increase the vitality and creativity of cooperation in the new era.

"In fact, with the joint efforts and cultivation of the two sides, China-Africa relations have made much progress in recent years as evidenced by deeper political mutual trust, closer cooperation for mutual benefits, and stronger people-to people ties," said Yang at a joint press conference with Kenyan Foreign Minister Moses Wetang'ula.

The top Chinese diplomat said in the haze of the international financial crisis, both China and Africa have met the difficulties head-on and accelerated cooperation, which has become a highlight in the international cooperation for development.

"This is the success of China and Africa. This is also the success of South-South cooperation. It showcases the strong vitality and great promise that will be released when the largest developing country and the largest developing continent in the world join hands and move forward," he added.

Yang, who earlier on Wednesday paid courtesy calls on Kenyan President Mwai Kibaki and Prime Minister Raila Odinga before meeting his Kenyan counterpart, said the Fourth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) in November last year spelled out China's commitment to cement friendship, deepen cooperation, face challenges together and seek common development.

During the meeting held in the Egyptian Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, on behalf of the Chinese government, announced eight new measures to promote practical cooperation with Africa, including tackling climate change, strengthening scientific and technological cooperation, enhancing Africa's financing ability and increasing market access for African products.

"China has always honored its commitments with real actions. We will work with all member states of FOCAC to implement the outcomes of the Ministerial Conference in a concrete way," he said, adding that one of the important missions of his visit to Africa, which will also bring him to Nigeria, Sierra Leone, Algeria and Morocco, is "to show to Africa the sincerity of the Chinese government, discuss with African countries the implementation actions on the ground, and bring the outcomes of the conference to the African people".

On his part, Wetang'ula applauded good relationship between the two countries and expressed appreciation of China's technical and financial support to Kenya, reiterating that Kenya committed to One-China policy.