CHINA / DIPLOMACY
Africa a big stage for international cooperation, not an arena for major-power rivalry: Chinese FM
Published: Sep 13, 2024 10:54 PM
The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation is held in Beijing on September 5, 2024. Photo: VCG

The 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation is held in Beijing on September 5, 2024. Photo: VCG


Africa is a big stage for international cooperation, not an arena for major-power rivalry, and China hopes that other economies can work together with China to benefit Africa, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said on Thursday.

"We believe that the better the China-Africa cooperation develops, the more investment other countries will make in Africa. China will uphold its longstanding tradition of cooperation with Africa, does not interfere in Africa's internal affairs, and will closely align with Africa's development needs," Du Xiaohui, director-general of the Department of African Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told a media briefing in Beijing on Thursday.

China will avoid geopolitical games, oppose provoking camp confrontation in Africa, and reject the exploitation of Africa for personal gains, Du said.

Du's remarks followed the conclusion of the 2024 Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation in Beijing on September 6 with significant achievements. In addition to reaching a clear political consensus on enhancing all-round cooperation, China and African countries drafted a blueprint for future cooperation, and China also proposed 10 partnership actions with Africa to advance modernization in the next three years.

"Africa is a big stage for international cooperation, not an arena for major-power rivalry, especially given that policies of some countries toward Africa are essentially anti-China policies," Du said.

Li Ming, director-general of the Department of International Cooperation of China International Development Cooperation Agency, told the Global Times after the media briefing that China's policy toward Africa has never targeted any third party. 

"We sincerely hope that some developed countries can fulfill their commitments to Africa and that their initiatives can genuinely address the real needs of the African people," Li said.

"China is willing to work together with the international community to assist African countries in accelerating their modernization and to build Africa into a peaceful and prosperous continent," Du said.