daniel chigunwe
WINDHOEK. – For the past 35 years, China’s foreign ministers have started each annual round of overseas visits with a trip to Africa, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday, describing the practice as unwavering and unchanging.
The top Chinese diplomat made the remarks as he met with Netumbo Nandi-Ndaitwah, Namibia’s president-elect, during his annual New Year visit. The southern African country was Wang’s first stop.
The annual African visit is a fine tradition and a distinctive feature of China’s diplomacy, he said.
By upholding the tradition, China hopes to show the world that, despite the changes in the international and regional landscape, it remains Africa’s most trustworthy friend, its most reliable partner in pursuing development and vitalization, and its strongest supporter on the international stage, he said.
Wang noted that China cherishes the friendship with the continent, because the two sides have always understood, trusted, supported, and helped each other in pursuing national independence and liberation, as well as in seeking common development.
China has elevated its relations with all 53 African countries with which it has diplomatic ties to the strategic level, and the overall characterization of China-Africa relations has been elevated to an all-weather community with a shared future for the new era. This highlights the need for China and Africa to firmly stand together and to further deepen cooperation, he said.
Strengthening solidarity and cooperation and jointly safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of developing countries serve the common aspiration of the 2.8 billion people from both sides, he added.
In his meeting with Namibian President Nangolo Mbumba in the country’s coastal resort town of Swakopmund, Wang said that China is ready to work with Namibia to implement the 10 partnership action plans China proposed at the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation held in Beijing last year, helping Namibia accelerate its modernization process.
Meanwhile, Wang said on Tuesday China will work with African countries to build the “Africa Solar Belt” programme and help the continent truly embark on the path of green and low-carbon development.
He spoke to reporters after meeting with President of the Republic of the Congo Denis Sassou Nguesso.
When asked about how China and Africa jointly address climate change, Wang said that President Sassou’s high attention to the issue of climate change reflects the foresight of African leaders, adding that China has always supported Africa in achieving green development as the installed capacity of photovoltaic power plants built jointly has exceeded 1.5 GW, lighting up thousands of homes across the continent.
Chinese President Xi Jinping has proposed that China and Africa should jointly advance modernization that is eco-friendly, which is the common goal of both sides and one of the key tasks of this visit, Wang said.
He said that China will implement the Partnership Action for Green Development, and work with African countries to carry out clean energy projects proposed at the Beijing Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation.
China will join hands with Africa to promote international climate governance, Wang said. – Xinhua
daglous masveta
