Beijing, 12 January 2022 (TDI): State Councilor and Foreign Minister of China Wang Yi spoke with the media after returning from the tour of Eritrea, Kenya, Comoros, Maldives, and Sri Lanka.
By keeping the tradition of China’s diplomacy, the Chinese Foreign Minister made his first foreign official visit to Arica at the inception of the year 2022. Wangi Yi stated that despite having threat posed by COVID–19 pandemic, he demonstrated the real commitment of China by touring Africa for the promotion of China–Africa solidarity and cooperation.
In an interview reviewing his visit to Africa, State Councilor & FM Wang Yi noted that #China and #Africa share similar ideas and interests, and our co-op has a solid foundation, great potential and a promising future. https://t.co/oZ992TF5Uk
— 吴鹏 Wu Peng (@WuPeng_MFAChina) January 12, 2022
China and Eritrea
Wang revealed that Eritrea is in a long-standing friendship with China. Both nations have similar ideas on independence sustainability, maintaining political and social stability, and navigation of their own development routes.
China and Kenya
He stated about Kenya that both states are all-inclusive strategic and cooperative partners of each other. Both have dire and unprecedented collaboration which is leading them towards the accomplishment of the joint construction of the Belt and Road project.
Furthermore, the proposal of “Initiative of Peaceful Development in the Horn of Africa” has also been presented by China. The core sincerity of China is to achieve the basic goal by assisting the African nations to keep them out from geopolitical competition among major states and make them able to maintain their fate by their own hands.
China and Comoros
Wang stated about Comoros that despite having differences in the size and level of development, both states have become a paradigm of equitable treatment and win-win collaboration for each other.
Further, he claimed that China and Africa have similar visions and interests, and their mutual collaboration has a strong base, enormous potential, and a hopefully prosperous future.
China’s Proposals
Wang stated that China has made three offers in the best interest of the Horn of Africa. First, security challenges may be decentralized by strengthening the intra-regional dialogues.
Second, the Horn of Africa should accelerate the regional revitalization to mitigate the challenges to governance. Third, the Horn of Africa should anticipate the effective ways to impede the challenges to governance.
The “Initiative” has received positive responses from Kenya, Ethiopia, Djibouti, and other countries in the region and has been believed as panacea to meet the urgent needs of the countries in the Horn of Africa.
China has appointed a special envoy for the Horn of Africa to play a more positive and constructive role in the region. In reply of “debt trap accusation” made against China, Wang stated this so-called “trap”, which is basically a narrative concocted by those who aim to perpetually lock Africa in a “poverty trap” and “backwardness trap.”
Wang stated that China has done a voluntary, equitable practical and effective investment and financial cooperation with African nations on the scientific basis based on the requirements of the African side, which has helped the African people.
By highlighting the accomplished social, economic developments in the Africa, Wang said that China is prepared to collaborate with Africa to strengthen and enhance traditional cooperation, such as the construction of infrastructure and advancing cooperation in other prospective growing sectors.
China would also collaborate with Africa to improve lives and contribute more to the industrialization and modernization also.
China and Maldives
In terms of China-Maldives relations, Wang stated that this year marks the 50th anniversary of their diplomatic relations, and that the two nations have become a model of amicable exchanges and mutual advantages. The building of the Maritime Silk Road between China and the Maldives is in the mutual interests of the both states.
Wang suggested that both states have a broader perspective. In this regard, they must have to begin a new chapter of mutually beneficial and cordial relations with each other.
China and Sri Lanka
Wang stated about China’s relations with Sri Lanka that the both nations’ strong political mutual confidence offers a strong incentive for mutual beneficial collaboration. This year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Sri Lanka.
He appreciated that Sri Lanka was the first country to respond to and participate in the Belt and Road Initiative following its announcement. Wang denoted the Colombo Port City and Hambantota Port as hallmark projects for the both states, which are collaborating to establish the Maritime Silk Road.
Further he said that both projects have become engines for the development of the economy of Sri Lanka and endowing the significant benefits to the Sri Lankan people.
For Indian Ocean Island States
Wang expressed with determination on the proposal of holding a forum on the ‘development of Indian Ocean Island States’ that China is ready to disseminate its development experience with Island states of Indian Ocean. In this regard, China is also ready to contribute to the holistic development of all the states.
Provision of Vaccine to Africa and Others
According to Wang, President Xi Jinping announced the plan to provide vaccines to Africa is currently being implemented that China will provide additional 10 million doses of vaccine to Kenya and will continue to provide sufficient vaccines to the Comoros to help it achieve the goal of universal immunization.
Wang said that China would continue to deliver vaccinations and anti-pandemic supplies to South Asian countries, and cooperation would be made with interested states in the research and development of specialized medicines also.
China vaccines are currently being distributed to every region of the Asia, Africa, and the Latin America where vaccines are required. In the last he said that China would continue to stand with other developing countries until the pandemic is defeated.
