Strengthened cooperation, common development

Home>>Opinion

Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, November 27, 2003

Strengthened cooperation, common development

DISCUSSION

CHINESE

SEND TO FRIEND

Since the founding of New China in 1949, the country has always attached great importance to the development of relations with African countries. Chinese leaders of several generations have devoted efforts to the cause of China-African friendship, set forth and formulated a series of policies on constantly consolidating and strengthening China-African friendly ties.

This series of Chinese policies toward Africa are established on the basis of the common and long-term strategic interests of China and Africa and are formed in the protracted common struggle, they will never be altered with evolution of the world situation and with change in the conditions of respective countries.

As we look back on the course of the development of China-African relations over the past half century, we can clearly see the following several basic characteristics: mutual support, observance of the principles of sovereignty, independence, non-interference in each other's internal affairs; mutual equality, adherence to the principle of mutual benefit and reciprocity, the carrying out of diverse forms of cooperation in economic, trade and other fields, never attaching any political conditions; mutual trust, handling bilateral affairs through consultation and in the spirit of sincerity and friendship; mutual support, close consultation and cooperation in regional and international affairs, and jointly safeguarding the legal rights and interests of developing countries.

Practice has proved that the establishment of long-term, close relations of friendship and cooperation between China and Africa conforms not only to the fundamental interests of the peoples of both sides, but also to the trends of world peace and development.

With the beginning of the new century, expediting the establishment of a fair and reasonable new international political and economic order, promoting world peace and development and bringing about common prosperity and progress of humankind have become the strong desire of the international community, particularly the vast number of developing countries.

China is the largest developing country in the world, Africa is the continent with a concentration of most developing nations, China and African countries are faced with the common tasks of maintaining long-term stability, developing national economies and improving people's living standards, in international affairs, they need to coordinate their stands and jointly safeguard the lawful rights and interests of the developing countries.

It was against such a background that China and African countries, acting on the purposes of "consultation on an equal footing, enhancing understanding, expanding common consensus, strengthening friendship and promoting cooperation", jointly proposed in 2000 the establishment of a mechanism of China-African cooperation forum.

In line with mechanism procedures, a ministerial-level conference of the China-African Cooperation Forum is held once every other three years, it is to be held in rotation in China and African countries. The establishment of the China-African Cooperation Forum mechanism has further promoted the increasing expansion and deepening of China-African friendship and cooperation.

The first ministerial conference of the China-African Cooperation Forum held in Beijing in October 2000 published the "Beijing Declaration of the China-African Cooperation Forum", made public the "Cooperation Program for China-African Economic and Social Development", and established a dialog mechanism and important platform for China and Africa to strengthen unity and cooperation and safeguard common interests under the new situation.

The main tasks for the forthcoming second ministerial conference of the China-African Cooperation Forum are to review and summarize the situation regarding implementation of the two documents: the "Beijing Declaration of the China-African Cooperation Forum" and the "Cooperation Program for China-African Economic and Social Development" passed by the first ministerial conference of the China-African Cooperation Forum; conscientiously explore new ideas and new measures for deepening cooperation in such major fields as the exploitation of human resources, agriculture, infrastructure construction, investment and trade and spur China and Africa to further develop pragmatic cooperation featuring equality and mutual benefit under the new circumstances.

It is reported that this ministerial conference will issue the "Addis Ababa Action Program (2004-2006) of the China-African Cooperation Forum", a concentrated reflection of the consensus on political and major international issues to the common concern of China and Africa. During the period of the conference, two large-scale activities will be held, namely "China-African Entrepreneurial Meeting" and the "(photos) Exhibition on the Achievements of China-African Friendly Cooperation".

The holding of a ministerial-level conference of the China-African Cooperation Forum in an African country for the first time marks the improving forum mechanism, the more clearly set goal of China-African friendly cooperation, the more concrete form, the richer contents and the more remarkable results. It can be said that currently the all-round, friendly and cooperative relations between China and African countries are in the best period of the history of China-African relations.

Consolidating and strengthening unity and cooperation with the vast number of African countries is an important component of China's independent foreign policy of peace. China-African cooperation is an important component of South-South cooperation.

In face of the world's new situation featuring the zigzagging development of world multi-polarization and the acceleration of the pace of economic globalization, China will, together with African countries, further expand consensus and deepen cooperation, constantly enhance competition advantage, grasp the initiative of competition in our hands, jointly meet challenges and attain the goal of common development.

China will, as always, follow the principles of "establishing sincere friendship, treating each other as equals, engaging in unity and cooperation, seeking common development and facing the future", and devote our efforts to developing a China-African long-term, stable new partnership featuring equality and mutual benefit. People can rest assured that with the common efforts of all members of the China-African Cooperation Forum, the Addis Ababa conference will definitely open a broader vista for enhancing China-African friendship and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation.

This article, carried on Page 13 of People's Daily on November 27, was written by Huang Zequan and translated by PD Online.

Questions?Comments? Click here

A mechanism formed for Sino-African cooperation

China-Africa forum adds value to Sino-African ties: Ethiopian FM

Wen on China's Role in Forum on China-Africa Cooperation

Trade move by US government is 'poll ploy': Opinion ( 9 Messages)

Bush's UK visit fails to meet his wishes: Commentary ( 5 Messages)

The cause of China-US trade disputes ( 18 Messages)

Internet changes life in China: News focus ( 17 Messages)

Why China's first textbook on sex not used? ( 7 Messages)

US should be straight on 'one-China' policy ( 34 Messages)