China Tuesday called for more world attention to African realities
in discussing and seeking a solution to the African issue, which is
of great concerns to the
UN Security Council and the
world at large.
Wang Yingfan, the Chinese permanent representative to the United
Nations, told an open Security Council meeting that "we believe
that when discussing and seeking a solution to the African issue,
we should never forget the realities in Africa and neglect its
unique characteristics."
"Our world is diversified," he said. "The African continent is an
important part of it."
"After long and unremitting struggles, most African countries won
national independence by the middle of the 20th century," he said.
"However, due to years of colonialism as well as other reasons,
their economic foundation is extremely weak, education for their
people is minimal and their socioeconomic development has been
hampered by many factors."
After winning independence, many African countries have traversed a
difficult path of twists and turns," he said. "At present, like
many other places, Africa also faces the two tasks of peace and
development."
"But these two tasks take on different characteristics on the
African continent and have a lot to do with its history, relations
between countries and ethnic groups as well as the socioeconomic
realities there," he said.
After the September 11 event, the international community has come
to realize that poverty and armed conflicts are causes of
terrorism, he said. "We believe that, only by increasing
development aid to African countries and helping them develop
economy and eradicate poverty can we lay a solid basis for a
thorough solution to African conflicts."
The Organization of Africa Unity (OAU) and other African
sub-regional groups are working hard to solve African regional
conflicts and to promote economic development there, he said.
"As a primary organ for maintaining world peace and security, the
Security Council has squarely on its shoulders a responsibility to
solve the issue of African conflicts," he said.
"Promoting peace and development in Africa and strengthening
cooperation with African countries constitutes an important part of
China's foreign policy," he said.
In
October 2000, China successfully hosted the China-Africa
Forum on Cooperation in Beijing, the Chinese capital. The
senior officials meeting and the ministerial meeting of the
China-Africa Forum on Cooperation will be held in Ethiopia this
year and next year respectively.
"Preparations for these two meetings are smoothly under way," he
said. "The Chinese Government has always tried to provide necessary
assistance to African countries to the best of its capacity."
The China-Africa Forum on Cooperation has already identified the
fields and some projects of cooperation between the two sides, he
said. "The Chinese Government has also made a pledge on reducing
and exempting debts owed by African countries to China."
By
now, more than 20 countries have signed with China the protocol on
debt reduction and exemption, he said. "The Chinese Government will
as always continue to strengthen its cooperation with African
countries and make efforts to help find solutions to regional
issues in Africa."
(
January 29, 2002)