Assistant Foreign Minister Chen Xiaodong has said that China-Africa cooperation has no political strings attached. He made the statement at the opening session of the Seventh China-Africa Think Tank Forum which was held in Beijing from July 4-5 2018.

His statement was in response to earlier accusation by former US Secretary of State Ricks Tillerson that China loan to Africa was hurting the continent and it was another form of colonization by China due to Africa’s incurring huge debt burden, which they will struggle to repay; but that accusation have since been rejected by both China-Africa academicians and politicians.

The Chinese Assistant Foreign Minister said that China respects the will and needs of African countries and believe that they should cooperate as equals, with no one party imposing its own terms on or lectures or exports models to the other.

He indicated that China understands the importance of debt sustainability in Africa and is helping Africa to improve its investment environment.

"As China’s financing to Africa is provided in a responsible manner, the associated risks are generally under control and China empathizes with Africa’s situation and tries to help Africa contain debt risks and relieve the pressure of repayment” Assistant Minister Chen Stressed.

Mr. Chen told the gathering that China-Africa cooperation has grown from strength to strength on the basis of strong strategic trust over the past four decades. He said that China has established comprehensive strategic partnerships with 24 African countries.

These partnerships, he adds are operating at higher levels, evidenced by closer strategic communication and coordination, stronger mutual understanding and support and greater experience sharing in governance and development.

Economic cooperation he said, has achieved phenomenal growth on the strength of interwoven interests, while ties between people to people have expanded thus generating fresh impetus into the friendship.

Mr. Chen also spoke about trade between China-Africa at which time he said it has grown from USD 765M, 40 years ago to USD170B in 2017. Chinese investment he added has also grown in Africa to over USD110B.

He pointed out that the 133 pairs of sister provinces and cities partnership between China and Africa have witnessed nearly two million visits every year, with over 100 exchange events held, while also implementing 200 projects that connects people to people.

Commenting on the forthcoming FOCAC Beijing Summit, he disclosed that China-Africa will capitalize on the momentum generated by the summit to chart the way forward, and will reinvigorate joint efforts to build a community with shared future for mankind.

However, he said that Think-tank cooperation which is also part of China-Africa cooperation have fostered a positive atmosphere in both academia and society for stronger China-Africa relations and high quality exchanges.

He expressed the need for China-Africa relations and cooperation must grapple with a more complex media and public opinion environment, while Think-tank must figure out ways to deepen cooperation by adding more substance.