China pledges �brotherhood� to Africa

Mpho Mokwape | Friday March 10, 2017 15:25

The country that has seen its economy rise in the last years due to its holistic approach to economic models says Africa remains its priority. China’s Foreign minister Wang Yi this week said the country was Africa’s friend as such there will be no weakening in support for Africa.

The Minister explained that the country has already announced $60 billion funding for the continent during the summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in December 2015 held in Johannesburg, South Africa.

“The support for Africa will continue no matter how the international situation or the economy may evolve,” he said.

He assured Africa and the rest of the world that nearly half of the promised funding support has been disbursed noting that China and Africa have a shared future with a brotherly mutual cooperation.

Wang also applauded the continent for being the most reliable partner in speeding up industrialisation and agricultural modernisation. Moreover he said the country was going to shoulder the responsibility and play a bigger role in upholding legitimate rights of developing countries.

“The Chinese people want to be the anchor of international stability, global growth anchor, leader in peace, development and more importantly contributor to global governance,” Wang said. Meanwhile, China-Africa ties have reportedly in the last decade expanded beyond trade and investment in extractive industries to include telecommunications, infrastructure, manufacturing, finance, media, agriculture, peace and security issues.

According to South African Institute of International Affairs, China’s support for Africa has grown due to the pair’s strong will in demonstrating the strengths of utilising an incremental and practical approach to tackling development issues of mutual concern.

NB: China is currently holding its two Parliamentary sessions that opened last week; the advisory body of Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference and the annual session of the top legislature, the National People’s Congress, the biggest sessions in China’s political landscape.