Projects in Africa made possible by Chinese aid   

中国已为非洲援建千余成套项目 未附加政治条件

今年是周恩来总理首访非洲50周年，李克强总理今天也将启程访问非洲，这将是中国新一届政府总理首次访非。中国在谋求自身发展的同时，为非洲提供力所能及的援助，且不附加任何政治条件。[查看全文]

The Chinese Premier Li Keqiang left for a visit to Africa on May 4, his first trip to Africa since assuming his current post as the top Chinese government leader. This year also marks the 50th anniversary of former Premier Zhou Enlai's first visit to the continent. [Special coverage]

China, while seeking its own development, has been providing aid to African countries without attaching any political conditions.

No political conditions

Africa, where there is a concentration of developing countries, is a key destination for Chinese foreign aid. China started providing aid to Africa in 1956. Decades later, China's aid to Africa grows rapidly and balances friendship and interest. Projects on poverty reduction, medical care, health, education, training and infrastructure are among the key areas that Chinese aid goes to, in order to improve the social and economic conditions of aid recipients.

Assistance from China has raised African countries' capacity for independent development, besides creating concrete benefits to the African people.

Lu Shaye, chief of the Department of African Affairs at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said that there are three models for Chinese aid to Africa: non-reimbursable aid, interest-free loans and concessional loans; and four models of how projects are completed: package projects, technological cooperation, in-kind aid and cash aid.

China's aid to Africa carries no political conditions. Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi said in March that China has helped with more than 1,000 package projects in Africa and has demanded no political conditions.

Deepened China-Africa ties

The reciprocal nature of China-Africa cooperation features both in politics and economics. In politics, African countries are very friendly to China. They have been supporting China on issues of China's sovereignty and territorial integrity.

In 1971, as China attempted to restore its legitimate seat in the United Nations, 26 of the total 76 countries who voted in favor were African countries. After the devastating Wenchuan Earthquake in May, 2008, Equatorial Guinea, a country with a population of only two million people, donated two million Euros to China.

China's economy has also benefited a lot from Sino-African cooperation, said Lu, in his response to criticism about China's motives for giving aid to Africa.

On the one hand, Africa provides China with both raw materials and a market for its industrial products. On the other hand, going to Africa offers Chinese businesses extra room for development, besides creating job opportunities. China's aid to Africa creates a benign environment for China-Africa trade as well as resource exploration.