Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Sunday summarized his trip to four African countries in Senegal's capital Dakar, saying that the friendship between China and African countries is unbreakable.
Wang is in Africa on a visit to Ethiopia, Burkina Faso, the Gambia and Senegal that will last from January 2 to 6, continuing a 29-year tradition of making Africa the first international trip by a Chinese foreign minister in a new year.
"Recently some countries deliberately smeared China-Africa cooperation," said Wang. "The governments and people of African countries are not bewildered and they have stood up to break the rumors and firmly adhered to the friendly policy toward China."
Wang said the leaders of the four African countries appreciated China's cooperation with Africa and thanked China for its support for the development of African countries and the improvement of people's livelihood.
Adherence to multilateralism becomes a common voice
Speaking of rising unilateralism, Wang said adherence to multilateralism has become a common voice. "African countries have great expectation on China's role in defending multilateralism. The four countries are willing to strengthen coordination with China and jointly defend the rules of multilateralism and jointly promote the democratization of international relations."
Africa has growing enthusiasm for BRI
Wang said his feeling from this Africa trip is that African countries have growing enthusiasm for the Belt and Road Initiative.
"A large number of China's key projects in Africa have brought tangible benefits to local people. With the alignment of BRI with African Union's '2063 Agenda' and the development strategies of all countries, BRI is expected to launch cooperation with higher quality and higher level on the African continent," Wang noted.
The one-China principle has been consolidated in Africa
Another point is that the one-China principle has been consolidated in Africa, Wang added.
Among the four countries that Wang has visited, Burkina Faso and the Gambia have resumed diplomatic ties with China not long ago. "The leaders of the two countries said that the resuming of diplomatic ties with China is an independent choice and a correct decision, which has been supported by the people and is in line with their national interests," he said.
The two countries will continue to unswervingly pursue the one-China principle, and adhering to the principle has become a political consensus that all parties have followed in the African continent, Wang added.
Senegal FM vowed to promote the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation
Wang said on Sunday that China will join hands with Senegal to strengthen the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries while promoting further strides of the forum on China-African Cooperation.
Wang made the remarks during talks with his Senegalese counterpart Sidiki Kaba in Dakar during his official visit to African Union Commission and four African countries.
Chinese President Xi Jinping's historic visit to Senegal in 2018 was a great success, which greatly enhanced bilateral politics trust and deepened friendship between the two countries, Wang said.
Kaba reiterated Senegal's adherence to the one-China principle, and said his country would closely work with China to co-chair the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation and promote the construction of the forum mechanism, implement the fruitful results achieved through the Beijing summit.
China, Africa to boost cooperation in innovation
Senegalese President Macky Sall congratulated China on the successful landing of the country's second lunar rover, known as Yutu-2, on the far side of the moon when meeting with Wang. This major technological breakthrough has shown that China is taking the lead in the field of technological innovation, the president said, adding that China's African friends are proud of its achievement.
Sall indicated that all these African friends hope to strengthen cooperation with China in scientific and technological innovation.
China's achievements are also achievements of developing countries, Wang said, stressing that developing countries have the right and ability to achieve rapid development in the field of scientific and technological innovation. Wang also noted that China is willing to cooperate with African friends in this regard.
