In an exclusive interview with Xinhua News Agency, State Councilor Tang Jiaxuan expounded on the China-African relationship and the significance of the "New-Type Strategic Partnership" emanating from the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Beijing Summit.

Xinhua: This year marks the 50th anniversary of the inauguration of diplomatic relations between New China and certain African countries. How do you view the growth of China's relations with the region?

Tang Jiaxuan: Despite the vast distance separating China and Africa, there is a long history of friendly exchanges. The founding of New China in 1949 ushered in a new era in China-Africa relations. In May 1956, ambassadorial-level diplomatic relations were established between China and the Arab Republic of Egypt, the first formal ties with an African nation, marking the beginning of a new stage in China-Africa relations. Since then, many African countries have established diplomatic relations with China after gaining their independence. China now has diplomatic ties with 48 African countries.

Over the past 50 years, the Chinese and African peoples have shared weal and woe, and sympathized with and supported each other. China has always stood firmly with the people of Africa and provided moral support and material assistance in their strenuous struggle to overthrow colonial rule and gain national liberation. Since African countries won independence, China has continued to support them in upholding their sovereignty, safeguarding their independence and promoting economic development. By so doing, China has contributed to political stability and socio-economic development in Africa.

African countries have also offered valuable support to China. Our African friends played an important role in restoring the lawful seat of the People's Republic of China in the United Nations. They gave China strong support in foiling anti-China resolutions introduced by some Western countries before the UN Human Rights Commission. The vast majority of African countries adheres to the one-China principle and support China's reunification. They have helped China defeat many attempts by Taiwan to "participate in the United Nations" and squeeze its way back into the World Health Organization and other international bodies. They also supported China's bid to host the 2008 Olympics and the 2010 World Expo.
 In recent years, new progress has been made in China-Africa relations based on a tradition of friendship, and this finds expression in enhanced political relations and closer cooperation in the economic, trade, cultural, educational and other fields. As this year is of special commemorative significance, Chinese and African leaders have agreed to work together to lift China-Africa relations to a new level. To this end, the Chinese Government, early this year, issued an "African Policy" calling for a new type of strategic partnership. This has received a warm response from African countries. In April and June this year, President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao made separate visits to Africa. From November 3-5, the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation Beijing Summit and its Third Ministerial Conference brought several dozen African leaders to Beijing to exchange views with Chinese leaders on enhancing future cooperation.

I wish to point out in particular that, despite the profound changes both in the international environment and in China and Africa over the past half century, China-Africa friendship has stood the test of time, gained in strength and is thriving with great vitality. The fundamental reason is that the two sides have always treated each other with sincerity and as equals, and pursued mutual benefit, solidarity, cooperation and common development. This is a valuable asset that 50 years of China-Africa friendship have left us and it will continue to drive the strong, long-term growth of China-Africa relations.

Xinhua: You mentioned the "African Policy" issued by the Chinese Government. What is the basic thrust of China's policy towards Africa?

Tang Jiaxuan: The African Policy is the first policy paper on a continent ever issued by the Chinese Government. It shows our resolve to enhance China-Africa solidarity and cooperation in the new situation. The main content is to foster a new type of strategic partnership featuring political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and enrichment through cultural exchanges. Specifically, it has three essential elements:

Politically, China and Africa should be strategic partners that trust and support each other. The two sides should maintain high-level exchanges and dialogue and enhance people-to-people exchanges in diversified forms to boost popular support for China-Africa friendship. They should be guided by the principle of treating each other as equals and of mutual non-interference in each other's internal affairs, and respect for each other's independent choice of development path. In international affairs, the two sides should strengthen coordination and cooperation to jointly promote democracy in international relations and uphold the lawful rights and interests of developing countries.

Economically, China and Africa should be cooperative partners and should draw on each other's strength for mutual benefit. They should work together to enhance South-South cooperation and North-South dialogue and work for economic globalization to develop in a way that brings balanced, general and win-win benefits to all. They should promote economic cooperation in diversified forms to increase trade volume and improve the overall trade structure. The Chinese Government will implement the five measures to help other developing countries accelerate their development announced by President Hu Jintao at the "High-level Meeting on Financing for Development" during last year's UN World Summit. China will continue to encourage and assist Chinese companies to invest in Africa. And we also warmly welcome African companies doing business in China.

Culturally, China and Africa should be partners in advancing human civilization and building a harmonious world. We should exchange experiences on governance and respect cultural diversity. And we should promote tolerance, dialogue and equality among different civilizations so that they can draw on each other's strengths and enjoy common prosperity. China and Africa should learn from each other through enhanced cultural exchanges.

Xinhua: What is the significance of the Beijing Summit in the development of China-Africa relations?

Tang Jiaxuan: The Forum on China-Africa Cooperation was founded by China and Africa in 2000. It has become an effective mechanism and important platform for enhancing China-Africa collective dialogue and cooperation in practical terms in the new era. The friendship and cooperation over the past 50 years between the two sides and the progress achieved since FOCAC's establishment need to be reviewed to push the work forward in the new century through the new strategic partnership, hence the Beijing Summit.
 There is a great need to upgrade the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Africa and inject new vigor. I am convinced that the successful convocation of the Summit will enhance the friendship between the Chinese and African leaders, and promote comprehensive growth of China-Africa friendship and cooperation in greater depth and broader terms and lift them to a higher level. It will enhance solidarity of developing countries and South-South cooperation and contribute to the glorious cause of global peace and development.

Xinhua: Some people are fanning the "China Threat" in Africa. There are also people in Africa who fear that an influx of Chinese commodities will cause unemployment. What is your view on this issue? What benefits will China's development bring to Africa?

Tang Jiaxuan: China and African countries are all-weather friends, partners of sincere cooperation and good brothers. China wishes Africa well. It is committed to helping Africa and hopes to see it grow and become stronger. The economic cooperation and trade between China and Africa are mutually beneficial. China's development creates more development opportunities for Africa. The allegations you mention are unfounded as far as history is concerned, and they also distort the current relationship between China and Africa.

First, China's development has created a growing export market for Africa. In recent years, China's foreign trade has increased rapidly, and so have its imports from Africa. In 2005, the China-Africa trade volume reached US$39.8 billion. It included US$21.1 billion of imports from Africa, exceeding our exports to the region.

Second, China's development has created more job opportunities for Africa. The Chinese Government encourages established and reputable Chinese companies to invest in Africa with diversified forms. According to preliminary statistics, China's total investment in Africa has reached US$6.27 billion. China has launched over 800 non-financial investment projects in 49 African countries, covering trade, manufacturing and processing, resource development, communications, agriculture, etc. China will develop new forms of cooperation, expand the investment scale, upgrade cooperation and provide quality service to promote common development.

Third, China has endeavored to provide sincere assistance to Africa. Up to now, over 720 major projects have been completed in 49 African countries with Chinese assistance, and 58 projects have been launched in 26 countries with preferential loans from China. We have exempted 10.9 billion yuan of debts of 31 heavily indebted poor countries and the least developed countries in Africa, and given zero-tariff treatment to some of the imports from 28 least developed countries in Africa. China has also trained over 14,600 African personnel in various fields.

It is unavoidable that some problems may occur in the process of continuous expansion of cooperation. These problems are limited in nature and can be resolved through consultation in accordance with the principles of equality and mutual accommodation. China appreciates the concern of some African countries regarding the trade deficit and textiles and is taking measures and working with the African countries concerned to resolve them.

I also wish to point out that China-Africa cooperation is transparent, open and inclusive. It will not affect the cooperation of either China or any African country with a third party, nor will it hurt the interests of any third party. On the contrary, strengthened China-Africa cooperation and common development will bring only good opportunities for the rest of the world.

Xinhua: What does future hold for China-Africa relations?

Tang Jiaxuan: The traditional China-Africa friendship is of great value to both sides. China is the biggest developing country and Africa has the largest number of developing countries. In the new era, common interests are increasing rather than decreasing, and the potential for cooperation is expanding rather than diminishing. Boosting China-Africa friendship and all-round cooperation is a long-term and strategic decision made by China, and it is a natural choice for the two sides in pursuit of common development and prosperity. Strengthened consultation and closer cooperation between the two sides will uphold the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries and advance democracy in international relations. I am convinced that, with the concerted efforts of both China and the African nations, we will surely make greater contributions to the building of a harmonious world of enduring peace and common prosperity.

(China.org.cn)