Chinese FM Urges Respect of Africa’s Choice for Partners

Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi Saturday urged all parties to respect African countries in choosing cooperative partners by themselves. “We hope that all parties can view the cooperation between China and African countries in an objective manner, and respect the African friends in choosing cooperative partners by themselves,” Yang told a press conference held on the sidelines of the annual parliamentary session. Yang called for more exchanges, less suspicions and accusations toward cooperation between China and African countries, and jointly promoting peace, stability and development in Africa. “If you want to walk fast, walk alone; if you want to walk afar, walk together,” Yang cited a traditional African proverb to elaborate the importance of cooperation with African countries. The Chinese Foreign Minister further said many countries are advancing their cooperation with Africa, and China welcomes such cooperation. Elaborating he said strategic partnership between China and Africa has developed fast over the years, and the two sides are actively implementing the follow-up actions to the fifth Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation. China and Africa will especially promote cooperation in such fields as investment and financing, assistance, African integration, civilian exchanges, peace and security in Africa,” Yang said. Yang said the cooperation between China and African countries is in line with African people’s wish for stability and development in their own countries, unity among African countries, and fairness and justice of the international order. In response to questions about the cooperation between China and Latin American countries, Yang said China is devoted to the establishment and development of comprehensive and cooperative partnership with Latin American and Caribbean countries. The Chinese Foreign Minister said China is willing to develop cooperation of all kinds with regional blocs like the Community of Latin American and Caribbean States, and promote the establishment of the forum on China-Latin America cooperation.