No strings attached

Foreign Minister Wang Yi is on a four-nation tour of Sub-Saharan Africa, honoring a 24-year-old tradition of Chinese foreign ministers paying their first foreign visit every year to the continent. This shows China remains committed to maintaining and developing meaningful interaction with Africa.

Wang's visit to Ethiopia, Djibouti, Ghana and Senegal will strengthen China's ties with the four countries and the continent as a whole. China has not only been advocating that the international community should intensify productive interactions with Africa, but also has set an example of how to provide African countries with development aid and help them grow stronger.

Unlike some Western countries, China does not set conditions for granting aid to African countries, because its cooperation with them is based on the principle of equality, mutual trust and reciprocity. That explains why China's presence in Africa has won widespread support.

Wang has used his visit to the four countries to explain in detail China's stance on burning issues in Africa and matters concerning the long-time development of the continent. He has called for immediate ceasefire in South Sudan and reassured African countries of China's role as an active participant in the continent's peace and stability process.

Speaking in the Ethiopian capital of Addis Ababa on Monday, Wang said China will not compete with the other international partners of the continent. This is a strong message considering that some countries have been trying to turn Africa into an arena for unhealthy competition to fulfill their ulterior political goals.

Sub-Saharan Africa is facing both challenges and opportunities. And some of the region's countries are likely to face uncertainties in economic and/or security fields in the process of nation building and working for common prosperity.

As part of its international responsibility, China will continue to help Sub-Saharan Africa to develop into a prosperous and stable region. In this regard, it is willing to work with international partners that are really concerned with the well-being of the African people.

Wang's visit to the region sends a clear message that China, like always, seeks win-win results from its engagement in the continent. Therefore, allegations that China is exploiting the continent for its own gains are not only irresponsible, but also baseless.