Chinanews, January 14th. In recent years, China-Africa cooperation has seen a significant decline and regression?
At the regular press conference of the Ministry of Commerce held on the afternoon of the 14th, the spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce Gao Feng responded to this. He said that the relevant statements and reports were biased and did not conform to the actual situation.
A reporter asked at the meeting: Recently, some Western think tanks, media published articles and reports that China-Africa cooperation has declined and regressed significantly in recent years. There are also claims that the new crown pneumonia epidemic has made China focus more on promoting domestic development and attach importance to Africa. The degree has declined.
Does the spokesperson have any comments?
Gao Feng responded that the relevant statements and reports were biased and did not conform to the actual situation.
In fact, strengthening solidarity and cooperation with African countries has always been an important cornerstone of China's independent and peaceful foreign policy and a long-term firm strategic choice for China.
After the establishment of the China-Africa Cooperation Forum in 2000, China-Africa cooperation has entered the fast lane, and the results have benefited the people of both sides extensively. China has contributed more than 20% to Africa's economic growth for many years.
Since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China, China has always adhered to the concept of truthfulness and sincerity and the correct concept of justice and benefit, and has actively carried out practical cooperation with Africa.
President Xi Jinping and African leaders presided over two summits of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and announced the implementation of the "Ten Major Cooperation Plans" and "Eight Major Actions", leading China-Africa economic and trade cooperation to achieve leapfrog development.
Gao Feng said that in the past 20 years, China-Africa trade volume has increased by 20 times, leading the growth rate of Africa's major trading partners. China has been Africa's largest trading partner for 11 consecutive years; China has imported agricultural products from Africa in the past three years. With an average annual growth rate of 14%, it has become the second largest importer of agricultural products in Africa.
China has helped Africa to build more than 6000 kilometers of railways and highways. It has built nearly 20 ports, more than 80 large-scale power facilities, more than 130 medical institutions, 45 sports venues, and more than 170 schools. Chinese companies have accumulated More than 4.5 million jobs have been created for Africa.
China’s direct investment flow in Africa has increased by more than 25% annually; as of the end of 2019, there were more than 3,800 Chinese companies in Africa with an investment stock of 44.4 billion U.S. dollars, which has effectively helped Africa improve its industrialization level and export foreign exchange earning capacity.
Gao Feng pointed out that at present, China is accelerating the construction of a new development pattern. President Xi Jinping has repeatedly emphasized that China's new development pattern is not a closed domestic cycle, but a more open domestic and international dual cycle. We must not only steadily advance domestic development, but also promote common development with countries in the world, including African countries, to better benefit the people of all countries. We must not only steadily advance domestic development, but also promote common development with countries in the world, including African countries, to better benefit the people of all countries. We have noticed that with the establishment of the African Free Trade Area, the integration process of African countries has accelerated significantly, the pace of economic diversification has accelerated, and emerging industries have flourished. It can be said that China-Africa cooperation has a brilliant history and broad prospects. China is willing to continue to uphold the concept of real, affinity and sincerity, and work with African countries to use the new China-Africa Cooperation Forum meeting to be held this year as an opportunity to consolidate the foundation of China-Africa cooperation, deepen the cooperation potential, gather cooperation forces, and raise the level of cooperation. We will unswervingly advance China-Africa cooperation, support the development of Africa, and jointly build a closer China-Africa community with a shared future.