HARARE, March 16 (NNN-NEW ZIANA) — China respects the sovereignty of African countries and will never interfere in their internal politics, says a senior Chinese official.
Speaking at a briefing here on China-Africa relations Monday, Chinese foreign policy advisory group member Ji Peiding said Beijing respected the independent choice of development path of African countries and never imposed its will on them.
“China and African countries have diversified, pragmatic and fruitful co-operation with 900 projects so far undertaken and 310 amounts of debts for 35 counties having been cancelled in the last 10 years,” he said.
The Chinese government has, over the past decade, made tremendous inroads into the continent, attracting jealousy of Western countries which have accused it of pursuing a colonial agenda.
Ji said China had put in place measures to strengthen relations with African countries in various spheres, including addressing climate change and enhancing co-operation in science and technology.
“We are helping Africa build financing capacity, opening up China?s market to African products and enhancing co-operation in agriculture,? he said.
China would provide medical equipment and anti-malaria materials worth 500 million Renminbi to 30 hospitals and malaria prevention and treatment centres it had built in Africa, he added. It would also train 3 00doctors and nurses for Africa, he said.
Ji said China would extend support towards human resources development and education through building 50 China-Africa friendship schools as well as train 1,500 school principals and teachers from African countries.
He said his country would also by 2012 increase the number of Chinese government scholarships for Africa to 5,500 as well as train a total of 20,000 professionals in various fields over the next three years.
Zimbabwe’s Acting Foreign Affairs Minister, Dr Stan Mudenge, praised the Chinese government for its unwavering support to Zimbabwe and Africa.
“The mutual respect has led China to support the oppressed nations and developing countries in their struggle to win and preserve national independence and develop their national economies,? he said.
Mudenge noted that China had assisted a number of African counties, including Zimbabwe, achieve their independence. — NNN-NEW ZIANA
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