China-Africa Relations: Equality, Cooperation and Mutual Development
       
-----Speech by Ambassador Liu Guijin of the People's Republic of China at the Seminar on Sino-African Relations

Dr. Jakkie Cilliers, Executive Director of the Institute for Security Studies of South Africa,
Distinguished Guests,
Ladies and Gentlemen,

First of all, I wish to thank the Institute for Security Studies of South Africa for giving me this opportunity to speak here and interact face to face with all of you. As an Africanist who has been involved in African diplomatic work for many years, I have been exposed quite extensively to this beautiful and richly-endowed continent, and cherish profound feelings with the honest and friendly African people. Today, I am very happy to take this opportunity to brief you on Sino-African relations and China's policy towards Africa. My presentation consists of five parts: 1. The history and current situation of Sino-African friendly relations of cooperation; 2. The evolution of China's Policy towards Africa; 3. The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and its follow-up actions; 4. Significance of a stronger China-Africa relationship under new circumstances; 5. China-South African Relations.

?. The history and current situation of Sino-African friendly relations of cooperation

If we look at the world map, it is 12,933 kilometers from Beijing to the Cape of Good Hope. Despite the vast oceans that separates one another, the friendship between China and Africa dated back to ancient times and transcended both time and space. Communication and indirect trade between China and Africa started as early as over 3000 years ago. By the 6th century, China and Africa already had direct contacts via sea route. In the 15th century, Zheng He, the well-known Chinese navigator of that time, led fleets to the east coast of Africa for four times, and visited places in Somalia and Kenya of today. Even now, the relics of the crew of Chinese fleets can still be found in Kenya. In 2002, the copy of a Chinese map entitled "Da Ming Hun Yi Tu", which dates back to the year of 1389 and is identified as the earliest map indicating the outline of the whole African continent in the world, made a stir in South Africa, when it was displayed as part of the Parliamentary Millennium Project exhibition in Parliament of South Africa. It proves that the contact between Chinese and Africans predates the European "discovery" of the African continent by over 100 years and China was the first country that established contacts with Africa.

In modern and contemporary history, China and Africa shared similar experiences, both having suffered from aggression, plunder and enslavement by colonialists. Therefore, the Chinese people and the people of Africa have all along rendered each other solidarity and support and shared weal and woe in their struggles against colonialism and for national independence and liberation. In 1949, the birth of new China opened up a new chapter in Sino-African relations. Since 1950s and 1960s, as more and more African countries won independence and  established diplomatic relations with China, the Sino-African relationship was ushered into a new era of all-round development. For the past 50 years or so, thanks to the concerted efforts and care of leaders of several generations from the both sides, Sino-African friendship has withstood the test of times and our cooperation has developed steadily and further deepened in the fields of politics, economy, culture, education, public health and military affairs, despite vicissitudes in the international situation and tremendous changes in our respective national conditions.

(1)Exchanges of high level visits have been frequent. From 1963 to this September, 92 Chinese leaders of and above the Foreign Minister level have paid 149 visits to Africa, while 459 of their counterparts from 51 African countries paid 609 visits to China. Such exchange of high-level visits made precious contributions to the development of Sino-African friendly relations of cooperation.

Three generations of Chinese leaders all attached great importance to forging the friendly relations with Africa. In the 1960s, the Late Premier Zhou Enlai visited Africa three times, covering 10 African countries and kicked off China's trip of seeking friendship, peace and knowledge from Africa. The late Chinese leader Mr. Deng Xiaoping followed very closely the development and progress of African countries. During his meetings with the visiting African leaders, Mr. Deng shared with them in sincerity both the experience and lessons in China's revolution and development, and encouraged African countries to explore their own political systems and development path suitable to their own conditions. Former Chinese President Jiang Zemin visited Africa four times, and made many important proposals on issues such as how to strengthen Sino-African relations in the new era. Since China's new generation of leadership took office a year and a half ago, Chinese President, Vice President, Premier and Chairman of the Standing Committee of National People's Congress have visited 16 African countries in succession. Since 1989, it has become a tradition for the Chinese Foreign Minister to visit African countries at the beginning of every year. Such frequent exchange of visits strengthened the mutual understanding and trust between China and Africa as well as the their peoples.

(2)Sino-African trade and economic cooperation has been advancing smoothly. For long, China has provided within its capacity sincere assistance to the economic development of African countries. Since 1956, China has provided aid to over 800 projects in Africa which involved agriculture, animal husbandry, fishery, textile, energy, infrastructure, water conservancy, power generation and other sectors. In the 1960s and 1970s, despite its own economic difficulties, China sent over 50,000 engineers and technicians in building the Tanzania-Zambia Railway project(TAZARA)which stretches 1860 kilometers and involved RMB 900 million(the exchange rate then was $1=RMB1.5). This railway has not only become the economic artery between Tanzania and Zambia as well as other African countries, but also a monument to Sino-African friendship.

Sino-African Bilateral trade has surged over the years. The trade volume between China and Africa was a mere $12 million in the early 1950s. However, it exceeded $10 billion in 2000 and reached $18.55 billion in 2003. In the first half of this year, it has already amounted to $12.68 billion. Nevertheless, the trade volume between China and Africa accounts for only 2.3% of China's total foreign trade volume, promising a huge potential for further growth. Mutually beneficial cooperation also develops rapidly. According to incomplete statistics, 674 Chinese companies were operating in Africa by June 2004, with a total contracted investment of $1.509 billion. In addition, China has signed investment protection agreements with 26 African countries.
(3)Sino-African cooperation in the education, scientific, cultural, public health, agricultural and other fields has become more fruitful. The Chinese Government has signed cultural cooperation agreements with 46 African countries. Since 1956, China has offered 15300 government scholarships to students from 52 African countries. In 2003, 1793 African students studied in China, taking up 1/3 of the total number of foreign students studying in China in the same year. Since 1963, a total of 15,000 Chinese doctors worked in 47 African states and treated nearly 180 million cases. At present, 35 Chinese medical teams composed of 880 doctors are working in 34 African countries. So far, China has sent over 10,000 agricultural experts and established almost 200 agricultural projects such as farms, agrotechnical stations and agricultural technician training programs in 40 African countries.

?. China's Policy towards Africa

Since the founding of new China, the Chinese Government always attaches great importance to developing relations with Africa, and adopted a series of related policies and guidelines which are often adjusted and enriched according to the fluctuation in the international situation and changes in the national conditions of the both sides.

In the 1960s when the political liberation is regarded as the most important task by most African countries, late Premier Zhou Enlai put forward five principles governing the relations between China and African and Arab countries, and eight principles directing China's assistance to African and Arab countries, both of which have become the guiding ideology of China's Policy towards Africa. Generally speaking, this policy is that China supports the African countries and peoples in their struggle against imperialism and colonialism in order to win national independence. China also firmly supports African countries to safeguard their sovereignty by opposing any of the foreign interference.

In the early 1980s, China launched the reform and opening up policy, while many African countries took economic development as the central task. Therefore, China proposed four principles on economic and technological cooperation between China and African countries, namely: equality and mutual benefit, emphasis on practical results, diversity in form, and pursuit of common development.

In the middle of 1990s, along with the in-depth development trend of political multi-polarization and economic globalization, former Chinese President Jiang Zemin put forward a five-point proposal on developing a long-term and stable relationship of all-round cooperation with African countries oriented towards the 21st century, the core of which being sincere friendship, treating each other as equals, solidarity and cooperation, common development, and looking to the future.

In this February, during the visit to Africa, Chinese President Hu Jintao put forward three-point initiatives, namely: to build on the traditional friendship and push for new progress in China-Africa relations, to persist in mutual assistance and mutual benefit and promote the common prosperity of China and Africa, to cooperate even more closely in an effort to safeguard the rights and interests of the developing countries. He also promised solemnly that together with our African brothers, we are ready to do whatever is helpful to peace and development in Africa, to the friendship and cooperation between China and Africa, and to the maintenance of interests of the developing countries as a whole. To sum up, the main points of China's policy towards Africa are as follows:

(1)To adhere to the Five Principles of Peaceful Co-existence, to respect the choice of political system and development road made by the African countries themselves according to their own national conditions.

(2)To support the African countries in their efforts to strengthen unity and cooperation, to support the positive measures including the implementation of NEPAD adopted by the AU and other sub-regional organizations in seeking for peace, stability, and development of the African continent.

(3)To strengthen and develop a long-term stable relationship of all-round cooperation with African countries, by increasing the exchange of visits of various levels, cementing friendship and promoting cooperation.

(4)To continue to provide the governmental assistance to the best of our ability and without any political conditions. With the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation as a new platform, develop economic and trade cooperation in diversified forms and various fields, encourage enterprises of both sides to enhance exchanges, enlarge bilateral trade, increase investment and seek common development.

(5)To appeal to the international community especially the developed countries to show more respect and concern for Africa, attach more importance to the peace and development in Africa, adopt feasible measures, increase their aid for Africa, honor their commitment to debt relief, enabling Africa to eradicate poverty while narrowing the gap between Africa and other parts of the world.

(6)To support African countries to participate in the international affairs as equal members of the international community and play a positive role, continue to uphold justice and speak out for African countries in international affairs, strengthen China-Africa consultation and cooperation, work together to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of the developing countries and strive for setting up a just and equitable new international political and economic order.

?. Establishment of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) and results of its follow-up actions

As we find ourselves at the beginning of the 21st century, maintaining peace, seeking stability and promoting development have become a shared aspiration of people of all countries. In order to further strengthen the friendly cooperation between China and Africa under the new circumstances and jointly respond to the challenge of economic globalization, the Chinese government made the proposal of convening the first Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing in October 2000, in light of suggestions of some African countries. As the Director-General of African Department of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Secretary-General of the Secretariat of FOCAC by that time, I was fortunate enough to participate the whole process of the preparation and convention of the Conference. The Conference had adopted two important documents, "Beijing Declaration of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation" and "Program for China-Africa Cooperation in Economic and Social Development", constituting the framework of a new type of partnership between China and Africa featuring long-term stability, equality and mutual benefit and all-round cooperation. After that, both the Chinese and African side had taken positive moves to implement the follow-up actions of the Forum, achieving gratifying results. In particular, the Chinese government had honored its promise well ahead of schedule in the field of debts relief, signing debt exemption protocols with 31 African states, canceling 156 African debts with a total value of 1.27 billion USD. China had also set up an "African Human Resources Development Fund".

In December 2003, the Second Ministerial Conference of FOCAC was convened in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. The Conference had adopted "the FOCAC Addis Ababa Action Plan (2004-2006)", mapping out a program for China-Africa cooperation in the political, economic, trade and social development and other areas in the next three years to come. The Chinese government made the following important commitments at the Conference:

Continue to increase assistance to African countries;
Strengthen cooperation with Africa in human resources development and train up to 10,000 African personnel in different fields in three years;
Open market and grant tariff-free market access to some commodities from the least developed countries in Africa;
Expand tourism cooperation with Africa, besides South Africa, Egypt and Morocco, give 8 additional African countries, namely Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania, Zambia, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe and Tunisia, the Tanzania, Zambia, Mauritius, Seychelles, Zimbabwe and Tunisia, the approved destination status for outbound Chinese tourists.

The first China-Africa Business Conference was held in parallel with the 2nd Ministerial Conference. Over 500 Chinese and African entrepreneurs attended the conference and held business talks. 21 cooperation agreements were signed with a total value of one billion USD.

So far, the follow-up actions of the Forum have either been implemented or made substantial progress. Hereby I would like to especially elaborate four areas of cooperation:

(1)Cooperation in the field of human resources development

There is an old Chinese saying, it is better to teach somebody how to fish than simply give him the fish. In order to help African countries to enhance their ability of capacity building, and in collaboration of NEPAD priorities, FOCAC has made human resources development the focal point of its follow-up actions. From October 2000 to November 2003, the Chinese side has sponsored nearly 300 training courses under the item of African Human Resources Development Fund, training more than 6000 African personnel in areas of diplomacy, economic management, national defense, agriculture, medical treatment, education, science, technology and culture, and dispatched more than 500 Chinese experts and teachers to Africa to give short-time training courses. China has made contribution to the African Capacity Building Foundation initiated by the IMF and sponsored nearly 20 vocational courses under the framework of TCDC (Technical Cooperation among Developing Countries) exclusively for African trainees. After the 2nd Ministerial Conference of the Forum, the Chinese side has established an "interministerial co-ordination mechanism on foreign human resources development cooperation", to increase the level of financial input as well as the scale of training programs. The Ministry of Commerce, for example, has doubled its financial input for the training of African personnel in 2004, and plans to hold 102 administrative and technical programs for Africa, compared with 50 last year, training 1800 African personnel this year. In addition, the Chinese side is actively exploring the possibility of sending youth volunteers to Africa.

(2)Market access

In order to conscientiously improve the market access of African products to the Chinese market, the Chinese side promised to implement exemption of tariffs for certain commodities exported from the least developed African countries. In July this year, the Chinese side has worked out an initial list of commodities that enjoy tariff-free treatment from 28 least developed African countries, as well as the corresponding rule of place of origin, and sent relevant documents to the governments of those countries. Talks are underway between the two sides, and the zero-tariff treatment of the listed products is highly expected to be implemented early next year.

(3)Cooperation in the fields of peace and security

China has been consistently supporting African regional and sub-regional organizations like OAU, AU, SADC and ECOWAS, in efforts to safeguard regional peace and security. During the past few years, especially since the establishment of FOCAC, China has played a more active role in the UN peacekeeping missions in Africa. The cooperation between China and Africa in the fields of peace and security has been greatly enhanced. During the first seven months of this year, China has sent 567 additional peacekeeping troops to Liberia, Cote d'ivoire, Burundi, DRC and the border between Ethiopia and Eritrea. Among those, the peacekeeping mission in Liberia is the largest peacekeeping force ever sent by China at the request of UN to participate in UN peacekeeping missions in Africa, consisting of three companies-an engineering battalion, transportation companies and medical personnel, with a total number of troops of 558. By the end of July 2004, China had sent about 1401 peacekeeping troops to take part in nine UN missions in Africa. At present there are 840 Chinese peacekeepers participating in seven UN missions in Africa.

(4)Cooperation in international affairs

During the past few years, the international situation has become more complicated with the new manifestation of hegemonism and power politics, the issue of development being neglected, and the gap between North and South even widening. Under this new circumstance, the cooperation between China and African countries in international affairs has been further enhanced. China supports the strong outcry of African countries such as South Africa to urge the international community to focus more on resolving the developmental issues. We fully endorse multilateralism, and supports necessary reform of the UN in order to strengthen its role. China is in favor of expanding the Security Council, giving priority to greater representation of the developing countries, and vigorously supports more representation of the African countries in the Security Council. During the WTO agricultural negotiations last year, China has forged close coordination and cooperation with the developing countries including African countries in the form of G20+, to safeguard the collective interests of the developing world. Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the 14th Ministerial Meeting of the Non-Aligned Movement as well as the 2nd Asian-African Sub-Regional Organizations Conference (AASROC?) in South Africa this August, and together with the representatives from Africa and other developing countries, loudly appealed to the world to establish a new international economic order that is fair and rational, while giving firm support to the establishment of a new Asian-African Strategic Partnership. In addition to that, China attaches great importance and appreciations to the establishment of India-Brazil-South Africa Dialogue Forum (IBSA), and is willing to give positive consideration to take part in the relevant activities of IBSA in an appropriate way, in order to make new contributions to promote the solidarity and cooperation between developing countries.

After years of development, FOCAC has become a mechanism of collective consultation and dialogue between China and friendly African countries, providing a new platform of friendly exchange and cooperation between China and Africa besides bilateral channels. I am deeply convinced that with the concerted efforts of China and Africa, the Forum is bound to bring out more practical results, and breathe new vitality into the friendly relationship between China and Africa.

IV. China is the largest developing country in the world while Africa is the continent where most of the world's developing countries are concentrated. Cementing Sino-African relations under the new circumstances is of great significance for the promotion of South-South cooperation and the common development of both China and Africa.

At the political level, strengthened consultation and cooperation between China and Africa could contribute positively to the establishment of a new world order that is just and equitable. Both belonging to the developing world and without any historical disputes whatsoever between each other, China and Africa share traditional friendship and strategic common interests. They, therefore, hold identical or similar positions on many of the major international issues and embrace similar stands and demands on what kind of world order to build under the new situation. Strengthened consultation and even closer cooperation between China and Africa are conducive to augment the voices of developing countries in international affairs and safeguard their rights and interests. On the other hand, only when developing countries stand together in unity and solidarity can further progress be made in the international relations towards a more democratic orientation. Consequently, this would, in a more effective manner, impel developed countries to attach more importance to the interests of developing countries and ensure their niche amidst the fierce competition in the international arena.

Secondly, at the economic level, as China and Africa are mutually complementary in their advantages, strengthened cooperation between them can promote common development and elevate the level of South-South cooperation. Excellent natural conditions and abundant resources have made Africa the reservoir of development potentials. Many countries in Africa now enjoy social stability and economic development while others are making positive efforts in exploring the developmental path suitable to their own national realities. After years of development, especially since the policy of reform and opening-up was adopted 25 years ago, China has gradually found and embarked on a developmental path of socialism with Chinese characteristics. Remarkable social and economic successes have been achieved. China's successful experience in economic development can be of reference for African countries. China can also offer some technology and equipment that are comparatively suitable to African conditions. Furthermore, the vast African market creates opportunities for the two sides to strengthen and expand their cooperation. Above said, the most important fact is that Sino-African cooperation based on equality, mutual benefit and sincerity constitutes an important part of South-South cooperation. The strengthening of cooperation between China and Africa would not only help promote each other's economic development, but also give impetus to South-South cooperation. This, in turn, will contribute to the common prosperity of developing countries as well as the narrowing of the North-South gap and the promotion of peace, stability and development of the world.

V. China-South Africa Relations

Bilateral relations between China and South Africa witnessed all-round and rapid development since the two countries established diplomatic ties in 1998. Mutual trust is steadily enhanced along with frequent exchanges of high-level visits. In April 2000, the two countries signed the Pretoria Declaration on partnership relations, followed by the establishment of the Bi-National Commission (BNC). At the second session of BNC in June this year, China and South Africa further identified their relations as "strategic partnership of equality, mutual benefit and common development". This identification not only responds to the objective requirements for the deepening of relations between China and South Africa, but also sets even higher goals for the two countries in further elevating their level of cooperation.

With a 20% share in the China-Africa trade, South Africa is China's largest trading partner in Africa. For South Africa, China is its second largest trading partner in Asia as well as its eighth largest exporting destination and fifth largest origin of import. In the first eight months of this year, bilateral trade of US$ 3.74 billion was recorded. It is expected that the bilateral trade could exceed US$ 5 billion for the whole year of 2004. Two events in June this year have created fresh opportunities for the expansion of economic cooperation and trade between China and South Africa in particular and that between China and countries in the Southern African region in general. One was the official recognition by South Africa of China's status as a market economy. The other was South Africa's announcement on behalf of Southern African Customs Union (SACU) that negotiations will begin with China on the setting up of a free trade area. As for investment, the total volume of two-way investment between China and South Africa arrives at US$ 500 million. Cooperation between the two countries also progresses smoothly in major projects involving the indirect coal liquefication and chrome. Of specific importance inter alia is the Letter of Intent signed recently between Sasol and consortium of Chinese companies including Shenhua Group on the feasibility study of the first phase of a "coal-to-fuel conversion" programme. It was just several days ago that Sappi, South Africa's largest paper group, made its first investment in China, embarking on its road to do business with Chinese partners.

Furthermore, China and South Africa have been cooperating dynamically in many other fields including culture, science and technology, education, justice as well as in the international arena. In April 2003, South Africa became the first country of destination in sub-Sahara Africa for self-financed Chinese tourists. Seventeen pairs of Chinese and South African provinces or cities have signed twinning agreements so far. China supports South Africa in playing an even greater role in African affairs and has also responded positively to the call by South Africa for enhanced cooperation among developing countries, especially among major countries in the developing world.

For me, as the Chinese ambassador who has been in South Africa for three years and a half, I have had the privilege to experience and feel the high enthusiasm and care leaders of the two countries have devoted to the development of bilateral relations. I am also genuinely overjoyed to see the rapid and steady development of the friendly cooperation between China and South Africa. I am fully convinced that the partnership between China and South Africa and that between China and Africa will enjoy even broader prospects.

With these words, I have come to the end of my presentation. I thank you for your kind attention. Now I am ready to take up your questions concerning China-Africa and China-South Africa relations.