On January 11, 2017 local time, Foreign Minister Wang Yi gave a joint interview to Chinese media in Abuja, the capital of Nigeria, at the end of his visit to the five African countries.Wang Yi noted that, this visit to the five African countries has conveyed three important messages:Firstly, China will adhere to the tradition of choosing Africa as the destination of Foreign Minister's first visit each year. It is not merely a formality, but contains important political connotation, which is no matter how many results does China's development achieve, we will always stand together with developing countries, with African brothers, because developing countries are the foundation of China's diplomacy, and Africa is the core of this foundation.Secondly, China hopes that Africa can restore its confidence, enhance solidarity, help each other and jointly respond to new challenges of different kinds. We have seen that the international political and economic situations are complex and ever-changing, bringing a lot of uncertainties to the peace and development of the African continent. However, on the other hand, this also creates a new opportunity for Africa's self-enhancement through unity, and opens up new prospect for the expansion of external cooperation of Africa. Among countries all over the world, China has the firmest friendship and most profound cooperation with Africa. China has the willingness and capacity to contribute to the peace and development of Africa through deepening cooperation with Africa.Thirdly, China is willing to explore the new idea of the upgrade and transformation of China-Africa cooperation together with African countries. After all these years, we can keenly feel that China-Africa cooperation has been quickly transforming from the traditional government-aid-oriented model to the model of enterprise investment and financing. This is a positive change, indicating that China-Africa cooperation is upgrading and transforming, which can help African countries to improve their capacity of independent and sustainable development. We are ready to work with African countries to keep pace with the times and blaze new trails in a pioneering spirit, so as to constantly elevate China-Africa cooperation to a new and higher level.Wang Yi said that, this visit to Africa has achieved the desired purposes of carrying forward friendship, aligning ideas, restoring confidence and deepening cooperation. We will continue to earnestly follow the cooperation policy towards Africa of "sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith" put forward by President Xi Jinping, well implement the results from the Johannesburg Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, and make feasible plans for preferential fields and priorities of bilateral cooperation based on different conditions and needs of African countries. In the meantime, in light of the current new situation, we will reinforce strategic communication and coordination with African countries in international and regional affairs, so as to properly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of both China and Africa, and developing countries.Distributed by APO on behalf of Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China.Media filesDownload logo
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