CHINA / Background
China's African Policy
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-11-02 14:06
China's African Policy, January 2006. [File]
Foreword
The first few years of the new century witness a continuation of complex
and profound changes in the international situation and further advance
of globalization. Peace and development remain the main themes of our
times. Safeguarding peace, promoting development and enhancing
cooperation, which is the common desire of all peoples, represents the
irresistible historical trend. On the other hand, destabilizing factors
and uncertainties in the international situation are on the rise.
Security issues of various kinds are interwoven. Peace remains evasive
and development more pressing.
China, the largest developing country in the world, follows the path of
peaceful development and pursues an independent foreign policy of peace.
China stands ready to develop friendly relations and cooperation with all
countries on the basis of the Five Principles of Peaceful Coexistence so
as to contribute to peace, stability and common prosperity around the
world.
The African continent, which encompasses the largest number of developing
countries, is an important force for world peace and development.
China-Africa traditional friendly relations face fresh opportunities
under the new circumstances. By this African Policy Paper, the Chinese
Government wishes to present to the world the objectives of China's
policy towards Africa and the measures to achieve them, and its proposals
for cooperation in various fields in the coming years, with a view to
promoting the steady growth of China-Africa relations in the long term
and bringing the mutually-beneficial cooperation to a new stage.
Part I:
Africa's Position and Role
Africa has a long history, vast expanse of land, rich natural resources
and huge potential for development. After long years of struggle, the
African people freed themselves from colonial rule, wiped out apartheid,
won independence and emancipation, thus making significant contribution
to the progress of civilization.
Following their independence, countries in Africa have been
conscientiously exploring a road to development suited to their national
conditions and seeking peace, stability and development by joint efforts.
Thanks to the concerted efforts of African countries and the Organization
of African Unity (OAU)/the African Union (AU), the political situation in
Africa has been stable on the whole, regional conflicts are being
gradually resolved and economy has been growing for years. The NEPAD has
drawn up an encouraging picture of African rejuvenation and development.
African countries have actively participated in the South-South
cooperation and worked for the North-South dialogue. They are playing an
increasingly important role in international affairs.
Africa still faces many challenges on its road of development. However,
with the persistent efforts of African countries and the continuous
support of the international community, Africa will surely surmount
difficulties and achieve rejuvenation in the new century.
Part II:
China's Relations with Africa
China-Africa friendship is embedded in the long history of interchange.
Sharing similar historical experience, China and Africa have all along
sympathized with and supported each other in the struggle for national
liberation and forged a profound friendship.
The founding of the People's Republic of China and the independence of
African countries ushered in a new era in China-Africa relations. For
over half a century, the two sides have enjoyed close political ties and
frequent exchange of high-level visits and people-to-people contacts. Our
bilateral trade and economic cooperation have grown rapidly; cooperation
in other fields has yielded good results; and consultation and
coordination in international affairs have been intensified. China has
provided assistance to the best of its ability to African countries,
while African countries have also rendered strong support to China on
many occasions.
Sincerity, equality and mutual benefit, solidarity and common
development-these are the principles guiding China-Africa exchange and
cooperation and the driving force to lasting China-Africa relations.
Part III:
China's African Policy
Enhancing solidarity and cooperation with African countries has always
been an important component of China's independent foreign policy of
peace. China will unswervingly carry forward the tradition of
China-Africa friendship, and, proceeding from the fundamental interests
of both the Chinese and African peoples, establish and develop a new type
of strategic partnership with Africa, featuring political equality and
mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchange. The
general principles and objectives of China's African policy are as
follows:
- Sincerity, friendship and equality. China adheres to the Five
Principles of Peaceful Coexistence, respects African countries'
independent choice of the road of development and supports African
countries' efforts to grow stronger through unity.
- Mutual benefit, reciprocity and common prosperity. China supports
African countries' endeavor for economic development and nation building,
carries out cooperation in various forms in the economic and social
development, and promotes common prosperity of China and Africa.
- Mutual support and close coordination. China will strengthen
cooperation with Africa in the UN and other multilateral systems by
supporting each other's just demand and reasonable propositions and
continue to appeal to the international community to give more attention
to questions concerning peace and development in Africa.
- Learning from each other and seeking common development. China and
Africa will learn from and draw upon each other's experience in
governance and development, strengthen exchange and cooperation in
education, science, culture and health. Supporting African countries'
efforts to enhance capacity building, China will work together with
Africa in the exploration of the road of sustainable development.
The one China principle is the political foundation for the establishment
and development of China's relations with African countries and regional
organizations. The Chinese Government appreciates the fact that the
overwhelming majority of African countries abide by the one China
principle, refuse to have official relations and contacts with Taiwan and
support China's great cause of reunification. China stands ready to
establish and develop state-to-state relations with countries that have
not yet established diplomatic ties with China on the basis of the one
China principle.
Part IV
Enhancing All-round Cooperation Between China and Africa
1. The political field
(1) High-level visits
China will maintain the momentum of mutual visits and dialogues between
Chinese and African leaders, with a view to facilitating communication,
deepening friendship and promoting mutual understanding and trust.
(2) Exchanges between legislative bodies
China favors increased multi-level and multi-channel friendly exchanges
on the basis of mutual respect between China's National People's Congress
(NPC) on the one hand and parliaments of African countries and the
Pan-African Parliament of the AU on the other, for the purpose of
deepening understanding and cooperation.
(3) Exchanges between political parties
The Communist Party of China (CPC) develops exchanges of various forms
with friendly political parties and organizations of African countries on
the basis of the principles of independence, equality, mutual respect and
non-interference in each other's internal affairs. The purpose of such
exchanges is to increase understanding and friendship and seek trust and
cooperation.
(4) Consultation mechanisms
Mechanisms such as national bilateral committees between China and
African countries, political consultation between foreign ministries,
joint(mixed) committees on trade and economic cooperation and mixed
committees on science and technology should be established and improved,
so as to institutionalize dialogue and consultation in a flexible and
pragmatic manner.
(5) Cooperation in international affairs
China will continue to strengthen solidarity and cooperation with African
countries on the international arena, conduct regular exchange of views,
coordinate positions on major international and regional issues and stand
for mutual support on major issues concerning state sovereignty,
territorial integrity, national dignity and human rights. China supports
African nations' desire to be an equal partner in international affairs.
China is devoted, as are African nations, to making the UN play a greater
role, defending the purposes and principles of the UN Charter,
establishing a new international political and economic order featuring
justice, rationality, equality and mutual benefit, promoting more
democratic international relationship and rule of law in international
affairs and safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of
developing countries.
(6) Exchanges between local governments
China's Central Government attaches importance to the exchanges between
local governments of China and African countries, vigorously supports
twin province/state and twin city relationship aimed at facilitating
bilateral exchanges and cooperation in local development and
administration.
2. The economic field
(1) Trade
The Chinese Government will adopt more effective measures to facilitate
African commodities' access to Chinese market and fulfill its promise to
grant duty-free treatment to some goods from the least developed African
countries, with a view to expanding and balancing bilateral trade and
optimizing trade structure. It intends to settle trade disputes and
frictions properly through bilateral or multilateral friendly
consultation, mutual understanding and mutual accommodation. Efforts will
be made to encourage business communities on both sides to set up
China-Africa Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry. When conditions are
ripe, China is willing to negotiate Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with
African countries and African regional organizations.
(2) Investment
The Chinese Government encourages and supports Chinese enterprises'
investment and business in Africa, and will continue to provide
preferential loans and buyer credits to this end. The Chinese Government
is ready to explore new channels and new ways for promoting investment
cooperation with African countries, and will continue to formulate and
improve relevant policies, provide guidance and service and offer
convenience. African countries are welcome to make investment in China.
The Chinese Government will continue to negotiate, conclude and implement
the Agreement on Bilateral Facilitation and Protection of Investment and
the Agreement on Avoidance of Double Taxation with African Countries. The
two sides should work together to create a favorable environment for
investment and cooperation and protect the legitimate rights and
interests of investors from both sides.
(3) Financial cooperation
To further develop China-Africa cooperation in the area of finance, the
Chinese Government will support the effort of Chinese financial
institutions to increase exchanges and cooperation with their
counterparts in African countries as well as regional financial
institutions in Africa.
(4) Agricultural cooperation
China intends to further promote its agricultural cooperation and
exchanges with African nations at various levels, through multiple
channels and in various forms. Focus will be laid on the cooperation in
land development, agricultural plantation, breeding technologies, food
security, agricultural machinery and the processing of agricultural and
side-line products. China will intensify cooperation in agricultural
technology, organize training courses of practical agricultural
technologies, carry out experimental and demonstrative agricultural
technology projects in Africa and speed up the formulation of
China-Africa Agricultural Cooperation Program.
(5) Infrastructure
The Chinese Government will step up China-Africa cooperation in
transportation, communication, water conservancy, electricity and other
infrastructures. It will vigorously encourage Chinese enterprises to
participate in the building of infrastructure in African countries, scale
up their contracts, and gradually establish multilateral and bilateral
mechanisms on contractual projects. Efforts will be made to strengthen
technology and management cooperation, focusing on the capacity-building
of African nations.
(6) Resources cooperation
The Chinese Government facilitates information sharing and cooperation
with Africa in resources areas. It encourages and supports competent
Chinese enterprises to cooperate with African nations in various ways on
the basis of the principle of mutual benefit and common development, to
develop and exploit rationally their resources, with a view to helping
African countries to translate their advantages in resources to
competitive strength, and realize sustainable development in their own
countries and the continent as a whole.
(7) Tourism cooperation
China will implement the program of Chinese citizens' group tour to some
African nations and, grant more African countries, as they wish and as
far as feasible, Approved Destination Status for out-bound Chinese
tourist groups. China welcomes citizens from African nations for a tour
of the country.
(8) Debt reduction and relief
China is ready to continue friendly consultation with some African
countries with a view to seek solution to, or reduction of, the debts
they owe to China. It will urge the international community, developed
countries in particular, to take more substantial action on the issue of
debt reduction and relief for African nations.
(9) Economic assistance
In light of its own financial capacity and economic situation, China will
do its best to provide and gradually increase assistance to African
nations with no political strings attached.
(10) Multilateral cooperation
China is ready to enhance consultation and coordination with Africa
within multilateral trade systems and financial institutions and work
together to urge the UN and other international organizations to pay more
attention to the question of economic development, promote South-South
cooperation, push forward the establishment of a just and rational
multilateral trade system and make the voices of developing countries
heard in the decision-making of international financial affairs. It will
step up cooperation with other countries and international organizations
to support the development of Africa and help realize Millennium
Development Goals in Africa.
3. Education, science, culture, health and social aspects
(1) Cooperation in human resources development and education
The Chinese Government will give full play to the role of its "African
Human Resources Development Foundation" in training African personnel. It
will identify priority areas, expand areas of cooperation and provide
more input according to the needs of African countries so as to achieve
greater results.
Exchange of students between China and Africa will continue. China will
increase the number of government scholarships as it sees fit, continue
to send teachers to help African countries in Chinese language teaching
and carry out educational assistance project to help develop Africa's
weak disciplines. It intends to strengthen cooperation in such fields as
vocational education and distance learning while encouraging exchanges
and cooperation between educational and academic institutions of both
sides.
(2) Science and technology cooperation
Following the principles of mutual respect, complementarity and sharing
benefits, China will promote its cooperation with Africa in the fields of
applied research, technological development and transfer, speed up
scientific and technological cooperation in the fields of common
interest, such as bio-agriculture, solar energy utilization, geological
survey, mining and R&D of new medicines. It will continue its training
programs in applied technologies for African countries, carry out
demonstration programs of technical assistance, and actively help
disseminate and utilize Chinese scientific and technological achievements
and advanced technologies applicable in Africa.
(3) Cultural exchanges
China will implement agreements of cultural cooperation and relevant
implementation plans reached with African countries, maintain regular
contacts with their cultural departments and increase exchanges of
artists and athletes. It will guide and promote cultural exchanges in
diverse forms between people's organizations and institutions in line
with bilateral cultural exchange programs and market demand.
(4) Medical and health cooperation
China is ready to enhance medical personnel and information exchange with
Africa. It will continue to send medical teams and provide medicines and
medical materials to African countries, and help them establish and
improve medical facilities and train medical personnel. China will
increase its exchanges and cooperation with African countries in the
prevention and treatment of infectious diseases including HIV/AIDS and
malaria and other diseases, research and application of traditional
medicine and experience concerning mechanism for public health
emergencies.
(5) Media cooperation
China wishes to encourage multi-tiered and multi-formed exchange and
cooperation between the media on both sides, so as to enhance mutual
understanding and enable objective and balanced media coverage of each
other. It will facilitate the communication and contacts between relevant
government departments for the purpose of sharing experiences on ways to
handle the relations with media both domestic and foreign, and guiding
and facilitating media exchanges.
(6) Administrative cooperation
China will carry out exchange and cooperation with African countries in
civil service system building, public administration reform and training
of government personnel. The two sides may study the feasibility of
setting up a mechanism for personnel and administrative cooperation.
(7) Consular cooperation
China will hold regular/irregular consular consultations with African
countries during which the two sides may have amicable discussions on
urgent problems or questions of common interest in bilateral or
multilateral consular relations in order to improve understanding and
expand cooperation. The Chinese side will work with Africa to facilitate
personnel flow and ensure the safety of their nationals.
(8) People-to-people exchange
China will encourage and facilitate the exchanges between people's
organizations of China and Africa, especially the youth and women, with a
view to increasing the understanding, trust and cooperation of people on
both sides. It will encourage and guide Chinese volunteers to serve in
African countries.
(9) Environmental cooperation
China will actively promote China-Africa cooperation in climate change,
water resources conservation, anti-desertification, bio-diversity and
other areas of environmental protection by facilitating technological
exchange.
(10) Disaster reduction, relief and humanitarian assistance
China will actively carry out personnel exchange, training and
technological cooperation in the fields of disaster reduction and relief.
It will respond quickly to African countries' request for urgent
humanitarian aid, encourage and support exchange and cooperation between
the Red Cross Society of China and other NGOs on the one side and their
African counterparts on the other side.
4. Peace and security
(1) Military cooperation
China will promote high-level military exchanges between the two sides
and actively carry out military-related technological exchanges and
cooperation. It will continue to help train African military personnel
and support defense and army building of African countries for their own
security.
(2) Conflict settlement and peacekeeping operations
China supports the positive efforts by the AU and other African regional
organizations and African countries concerned to settle regional
conflicts and will provide assistance within our own capacity. It will
urge the UN Security Council to pay attention to and help resolve
regional conflicts in Africa. It will continue its support to and
participation in UN peacekeeping operations in Africa.
(3) Judicial and police cooperation
China is prepared to promote exchange and cooperation between Chinese and
African judicial and law enforcement departments. The two sides may learn
from each other in legal system building and judicial reform so as to be
better able to prevent, investigate and crack down on crimes. China will
work together with African countries to combat transnational organized
crimes and corruption, and intensify cooperation on matters concerning
judicial assistance, extradition and repatriation of criminal suspects.
China will cooperate closely with immigration departments of African
countries in tackling the problem of illegal migration, improve exchange
of immigration control information and set up an unimpeded and efficient
channel for intelligence and information exchange.
(4) Non-traditional security areas
In order to enhance the ability of both sides to address non-traditional
security threats, it is necessary to increase intelligence exchange,
explore more effective ways and means for closer cooperation in combating
terrorism, small arms smuggling, drug trafficking, transnational economic
crimes, etc.
Part V:
Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and Its Follow-up Actions
Launched in 2000, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation has become an
effective mechanism for the collective dialogue and multilateral
cooperation between China and Africa and put in place an important
framework and platform for a new type of China-Africa partnership
featuring long-term stability, equality and mutual benefit.
China attaches importance to the positive role of the Forum on
China-Africa Cooperation in strengthening political consultation and
pragmatic cooperation between China and Africa, and stands ready to work
with African countries to conscientiously implement the Beijing
Declaration of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, the Program for
China-Africa Cooperation in Economic and Social Development and the Forum
on China-Africa Cooperation-Addis Ababa Action Plan (2004-2006) and its
follow-up action plans. China will work with African countries within the
framework of the Forum to explore new ways to enhance mutual political
trust, promote the comprehensive development of pragmatic cooperation,
further improve the mechanism of the forum, and try to find the best way
for furthering cooperation between the Forum and the NEPAD.
Part VI:
China's Relations with African Regional Organizations
China appreciates the significant role of the AU in safeguarding peace
and stability in the region and promoting African solidarity and
development. China values its friendly cooperation with the AU in all
fields, supports its positive role in regional and international affairs
and stands ready to provide the AU assistance to the best of its capacity.
China appreciates and supports the positive role of Africa's sub-regional
organizations in promoting political stability, economic development and
integration in their own regions and stands ready to enhance its amicable
cooperation with those organizations.
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