Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets Sierra Leone's Foreign Minister Nabeela Tunis in Beijing, June 23, 2019.(Photo from fmprc.gov.cn)
Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said China is willing to work with African countries to build a high-quality and sustainable relationship as well as deepen cooperation in infrastructure, agriculture, healthcare, telecommunications, and energy.
Wang made the remarks in meetings in Beijing on Sunday with foreign ministers from eight African nations – Sierra Leone, Gabon, the Republic of the Congo, Sao Tome and Principe, Cameron, Somalia, Madagascar, and Senegal.
The delegates are in China for a Coordinators’ Meeting for the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
"This coordinators' meeting is a major chance for China and African countries to deepen strategic cooperation," Wang said. "China and African countries share the same demand for development, and the same interest in international affairs."
During the meetings, Wang also said that China and African countries should implement the results of last year’s summit.
"The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was successfully held in Beijing last year. We have been actively implementing outcomes of the forum, and reaped early harvests. Through the coordinators' meeting, we hope to review the achievements of China and Africa Cooperation, and work together to plan the next phase of implementation," Wang said.
At their bilateral meetings, Wang rebuked the notion of a debt trap in China-Africa cooperation. "China’s financial support to African countries does not come with any political strings," he said at the meeting with the Cameroonian Foreign Minister Lejeune Mbella Mbella, who expressed gratitude for Chinese support to Africa.
"China-Africa cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road will bring new hope for African countries and bring prosperity to African people," Mbella said.
The Foreign Minister of the Republic of Congo Jean-Claude Gakosso praised China's stance on multilateralism.
"The Republic of Congo supports multilateralism. It is essential for medium and small countries," Gakosso said. "We admire China’s firm stance on opposing unilateralism. We will continue to stand with China on that matter."
After their bilateral meetings, Wang and the African foreign ministers also witnessed the signing of a number of cooperation agreements.
