Vice President, John Mahama is among a number of African leaders who have praised China for its role in assisting Africa in its development. This follows new initiatives proposed by Chinese Prime Minister at the fourth Ministerial meeting of the Forum for Chinese-Africa Co-peration, FOCAC, in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt.
‘‘If you want to go quickly, go alone, but if you want to go far, go together,’ ‘ this was an African proverb the Chinese Prime Minister, Wen Jiabao reminded African leaders at the opening of the Ministerial conference .
Mr Wen also added a Chinese saying that goes, ‘’as distance can test a horse’s strength, so time can reveal a person’s heart.’’ The Chinese Premier explained that as long as China and Africa go hand in hand with an enterprising spirit and co-operate, on the basis of equality and mutual benefit, opportunities would be seized and challenges overcome to take the new type of China-Africa strategic partnership and co-operation even more fruitful. That was how the Chinese leader ended his speech which was greeted with applause.
Mr Wen said since the founding of FOCAC, that is , the forum in China-Africa co-operation nine years a go, it has been playing a major role in becoming a bridge of friendship between Africa and China.
Mutual political trust has been enhanced, diplomatic consultations stepped up, China-Africa traded exceeded 100 billion dollars last year, and nearly 1.600Chinese enterprises have started doing business in Africa. The Chinese leader said despite the effect of the economic crisis, and many domestic problems, his country honoured its promise made at the Beijin summit by doubling its assistance to Africa, and it about to complete cancelling 168 debts owed by 33 African countries. There have been co-operation between China and Africa in culture, education health and human resource training leading to deeper mutual understanding and stronger traditional friendship between China and Africa.
Mr Wen pointed out that China’s cooperation with Africa started long ago, during the liberation struggle in Africa. Africa was not only receiving from China. He recalled that during a devastating earthquake in Wenchuan, African countries expressed their friendship to Chinese people.
He described economic co-operation and trade between Africa and China as being based on mutual benefit, , win-win progress , openness and transparency. Mr Wen said China has never attached any political strings to its support and assistance to Africa, pledging that never will his country do that in the future.
In deepening what he called practical co-operation with African countries, the China has put forward an eight point- proposal. These are strengthening strategic co-ordination to uphold common interest, assist FOCAC to meet the Millennium Development Goals , enhance economic co-operation and trade, step up cultural exchanges , expand co-operation to expand FOCAC institutional building.
And for the next three years, China proposes to establish China-Africa partnership in addressing climate change through the use of solar energy, bio-gas and small hydro power, encourage use of science and technology, help build Africa build financing capacity with $10 b concessional loan to African countries, open China’s markets to African countries, enhance co-operation in agricultural technology, , deepen cooperation in medical health care and health, enhance co-operation in in human resource development and education and expand people to people co-operation .
Vice President Mahama described China as a good friend . He said FOCA C has become a platform for collective dialogue. He said China’s assistance to Ghana is remarkable . He praised China for promptly build offices for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs which was destroyed by fire last month.
