China will open wider for African products
On June 11, Chinese President Xi Jinping announced a series of concrete measures to advance the high-quality development of China-Africa cooperation in his congratulatory letter to the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators on Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) which was held in Changsha, capital of central China’s Hunan Province this week and attended by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and representatives from 54 African members of the FOCAC including Honorable Selma Ashipala-Musavyi, Minister of International Relations and Trade of Namibia.
Noting that the current international situation is marked by changes and turmoil, President Xi said China is committed to providing new opportunities for the world with the new achievements of Chinese modernization and offering new impetus to the Global South partners, including Africa, with its huge market. China is ready to negotiate and sign the Agreement of China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development to implement the zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines for 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China and China will provide more convenience for the least developed countries in Africa to export to China.
President Xi also said China is ready to work with Africa to deepen the implementation of the 10 partnership actions for modernization announced at the FOCAC Summit last September, strengthen cooperation in such key areas as green industry, e-commerce and e-payment, science and technology, and artificial intelligence, and enhance cooperation in security, finance and the rule of law, to promote high-quality development of China-Africa cooperation.
Strong Determination To Safeguard Global Trading System
Ever since the US imposition of the so-called reciprocal tariffs on all trading partners, China has staunchly opposed such a move which seriously damages the international trading system, violates the global industrial and supply chain, and harms the global economy. And China has also reaffirmed its firm commitment to defending an open, inclusive, transparent, and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system.
China’s latest offer of zero tariff treatment for African countries has fully demonstrated its strong support for Africa in time of difficulties when the African continent is experiencing the headwind blowing from the unprecedented trade unilateralism and protectionism of certain country. It’s also a timely call for the international community to return to the right track of the rules-based multilateral trading system and economic globalization.
As the China-Africa Changsha Declaration on Upholding Solidarity and Cooperation of the Global South has shown, which was issued as an important outcome of the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators, it’s the common aspiration of both China and Africa to defend international equity and justice and safeguard international economic and trade order. By working together, China and Africa, as important members of and staunch forces in the Global South, will make greater contribution to fostering a better trade, investment and financing environment for the Global South.
Clear Message for Full Implementation
The purpose of the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators is to assess the early achievements of the implementation of the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit last year and inject new impetus to the future actions. The Summit was a very important milestone in China-Africa relations with the ten partnership actions for modernization with Africa as announced by President Xi Jinping, and China has all the sincerity to honor its commitments with actions. The List of the Outcomes of the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Beijing Summit of the FOCAC, which was reported to the Ministerial Meeting, provides a comprehensive, quantitative and tangible presentation of progress achieved.
In Namibia, We have been actively pushing forward the Chinese government grant project such as the Police Housing Project, Borehole Drilling Project, Smart City Pilot Project and Social Housing Project. The first batch of China’s emergency food assistance has arrived in Namibia in January and has been distributed to the affected communities, while the second batch will arrive in a couple of months. Recently, both sides signed an MoU to boost customs cooperation and promote trade facilitation as well as an agreement on the inspection, quarantine, and hygiene requirements for mutton and chevon to be exported from Namibia to China.
There are also some other projects under bilateral discussion, and certainly we will explore new projects in future. As a close development partner of Namibia and inspired by the spirit of China-Namibia friendship, we will continue to provide support for Namibia’s social and economic development to the best of our ability in extensive areas ranging from infrastructure construction to capacity building. And certainly investment and economic cooperation is another key area for the implementation of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and we will hear more good news in this regard.
China has always been a trustworthy and reliable friend of Africa. We will do our utmost to turn the blueprint mapped out at the Beijing FOCAC Summit into reality, so that our African friends will enjoy the full fruits of China-Africa cooperation. We hope to see a prosperous Africa, and we will continue to contribute our part to that end.
Noting that the current international situation is marked by changes and turmoil, President Xi said China is committed to providing new opportunities for the world with the new achievements of Chinese modernization and offering new impetus to the Global South partners, including Africa, with its huge market. China is ready to negotiate and sign the Agreement of China-Africa Economic Partnership for Shared Development to implement the zero-tariff treatment for 100 percent tariff lines for 53 African countries having diplomatic relations with China and China will provide more convenience for the least developed countries in Africa to export to China.
President Xi also said China is ready to work with Africa to deepen the implementation of the 10 partnership actions for modernization announced at the FOCAC Summit last September, strengthen cooperation in such key areas as green industry, e-commerce and e-payment, science and technology, and artificial intelligence, and enhance cooperation in security, finance and the rule of law, to promote high-quality development of China-Africa cooperation.
Strong Determination To Safeguard Global Trading System
Ever since the US imposition of the so-called reciprocal tariffs on all trading partners, China has staunchly opposed such a move which seriously damages the international trading system, violates the global industrial and supply chain, and harms the global economy. And China has also reaffirmed its firm commitment to defending an open, inclusive, transparent, and non-discriminatory multilateral trading system.
China’s latest offer of zero tariff treatment for African countries has fully demonstrated its strong support for Africa in time of difficulties when the African continent is experiencing the headwind blowing from the unprecedented trade unilateralism and protectionism of certain country. It’s also a timely call for the international community to return to the right track of the rules-based multilateral trading system and economic globalization.
As the China-Africa Changsha Declaration on Upholding Solidarity and Cooperation of the Global South has shown, which was issued as an important outcome of the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators, it’s the common aspiration of both China and Africa to defend international equity and justice and safeguard international economic and trade order. By working together, China and Africa, as important members of and staunch forces in the Global South, will make greater contribution to fostering a better trade, investment and financing environment for the Global South.
Clear Message for Full Implementation
The purpose of the Ministerial Meeting of Coordinators is to assess the early achievements of the implementation of the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit last year and inject new impetus to the future actions. The Summit was a very important milestone in China-Africa relations with the ten partnership actions for modernization with Africa as announced by President Xi Jinping, and China has all the sincerity to honor its commitments with actions. The List of the Outcomes of the Implementation of the Follow-up Actions of the Beijing Summit of the FOCAC, which was reported to the Ministerial Meeting, provides a comprehensive, quantitative and tangible presentation of progress achieved.
In Namibia, We have been actively pushing forward the Chinese government grant project such as the Police Housing Project, Borehole Drilling Project, Smart City Pilot Project and Social Housing Project. The first batch of China’s emergency food assistance has arrived in Namibia in January and has been distributed to the affected communities, while the second batch will arrive in a couple of months. Recently, both sides signed an MoU to boost customs cooperation and promote trade facilitation as well as an agreement on the inspection, quarantine, and hygiene requirements for mutton and chevon to be exported from Namibia to China.
There are also some other projects under bilateral discussion, and certainly we will explore new projects in future. As a close development partner of Namibia and inspired by the spirit of China-Namibia friendship, we will continue to provide support for Namibia’s social and economic development to the best of our ability in extensive areas ranging from infrastructure construction to capacity building. And certainly investment and economic cooperation is another key area for the implementation of the FOCAC Beijing Summit, and we will hear more good news in this regard.
China has always been a trustworthy and reliable friend of Africa. We will do our utmost to turn the blueprint mapped out at the Beijing FOCAC Summit into reality, so that our African friends will enjoy the full fruits of China-Africa cooperation. We hope to see a prosperous Africa, and we will continue to contribute our part to that end.
