African journalists covering the Beijing Summit of the Forum on
China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Sunday said China's offer to
increase assistance to Africa would inject new vitality to their
development and China-Africa cooperation.
Some journalists spoke highly of China's new aid offers for
Africa when President Hu Jintao addressed Saturday's opening
ceremony of the landmark gathering in China-Africa history.
In the aid package, China offered preferential loans, debt
exemptions, favorable tariff policies as well as training of
personnel.
Artwell Karuru, a reporter working for Zimbabwean presidential
office, told Xinhua that China's assistance to Africa is "sincere,
selfless and without conditions," which has brought about "concrete
benefits" to African countries and people.
He said in the past 26 years after Zimbabwe's independence,
China has provided aid to projects in the country, including
construction of roads, hospitals and stadiums.
He also praised Chinese government's promise to train
professionals for Africa, quoting a Chinese proverb which goes
"giving a man fish will keep him from starving today, but teaching
a man how to fish will keep him from starving for life time."
Nigerian News Agency reporter Kola Oshiyemi said China took many
concrete measures to help Africa. China will help build a 1,400-km
railway with an investment of US$8.3 billion in Nigeria, which is
another example of cooperation between Africa and China, he
said.
"I think Nigeria should learn from China's development path and
finally promote economic development in our own country," Oshiyemi
noted.
The two-day Beijing Summit, highlighting "friendship, peace,
cooperation and development," has drawn 41 heads of state or
government and senior officials of 48 African countries that have
diplomatic ties with China, as well as representatives from
regional and international organizations.
FOCAC is a mechanism for collective dialogue and cooperation
jointly established by China and Africa to cope with new challenges
and facilitate common development.
(Xinhua News Agency November 6, 2006)