Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday wrapped up a visit to three West African countries worst hit by Ebola, saying China will cooperate with Africa in reducing poverty and realizing development after defeating the epidemic.
Wang is the first foreign minister of a major country to visit the West African region following the outbreak of the deadly virus in 2014.
RELIABLE PARTNER FOR COOPERATION
Speaking to Chinese reporters, Wang said Sierra Leone, Liberia and Guinea have achieved a decisive victory in the fight against Ebola, with Liberia taking the lead in announcing an end to the epidemic.
The three countries have concentrated on economic and social reconstruction in the "post-Ebola era," he said, adding that he had reached a series of consensus with leaders of the countries on the issue.
As poverty was the root cause for the outbreak of the disease in the three least-developed countries in West Africa, Wang said, they should reduce poverty and realize development as soon as possible.
He called on the three countries to gradually establish and improve a public health system for the sake of their people's lives and health, saying China is willing to help them in infrastructure construction and personnel training.
Although African nations have achieved political independence, they should make unremitting efforts for economic independence, he said.
In the long run, Wang said, African nations should build up their independent development capacity and establish an industrial system.
China is ready to help Africa turn its abundant natural resources into economic strength and set up an independent industrial system through cooperation in production capacity, he said.
The minister said that in this regard, China is capable of becoming a reliable cooperation partner for Africa.
As for the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation, which will hold its sixth ministerial meeting later this year, Wang said that over the past 15 years, the forum has played an important role in not only boosting Africa's development, but also bringing more investment from other major powers for the continent.
