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Beijing Review Exclusive
Special> 'Experience China' in Nigeria, Kenya> Beijing Review Exclusive
UPDATED: September 22, 2013 NO. 39 SEPTEMBER 26, 2013
Forging a Dynamic Partnership
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GOOD HEALTH: The then Ugandan Minister of Health Christine Ondoa presents a certificate to Chinese medical team members honoring their medical assistance to Ugandan people on June 1, 2012 in Jinja, Uganda (XINHUA)

With the rapid development of China-Africa and China-Russia relations in recent years, high-level exchange visits have increased accordingly. Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), traveled to Africa and Russia in mid-September for the latest of these exchanges. In a written interview with Beijing Review and other periodicals, Fu Ying, Chairwoman of the NPC Foreign Affairs Committee, shared her views on the relations and Chairman Zhang's visit to further develop these ties. Excerpts of the interview follow:

Several of China's top leaders have visited Africa this year. What message does Chairman Zhang Dejiang's latest visit send to Africa?

Chairman Zhang's visit to Africa is important for China's diplomatic efforts on the continent in the wake of Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit in March. This indicates the great importance China's new leadership attaches to Sino-African relations and China's positive attitude in enhancing mutual understanding and cooperation.

China and African countries share a deep traditional friendship. China's ongoing progress in reform and opening up and the African continent's accelerated rate of development offer greater opportunities for China-Africa cooperation. This can be seen in the following aspects:

First, the convergence of economic interests between China and Africa is expanding. In 2009, China emerged as Africa's largest trade partner, with both sides showing increased demands of trade and investment.

Second, communication channels have become increasingly diversified. Besides exchanges on government levels, people-to-people contacts are also growing. Based on the all-round development in bilateral relations, China and Africa have developed sound coordination and cooperation in a multilateral framework.

Third, there is no great divergence between China and Africa and we regard each other's success as our respective development opportunities. More importantly, China's success is an inspiration to African countries and serves as a great motivator.

These factors have provided additional avenues in further developing Sino-African relations, enabling Sino-African cooperation to shift into the fast lane and make prominent achievements in various fields.

While visiting Africa in March, President Xi said that developing Sino-African relations is an ongoing process that will never stop. But how to develop this relationship in accordance with the era's changes is a new challenge. During his visit, Chairman Zhang focuses on the new situations and needs for developing China-Africa relations. On the one hand, he conveys the message of China's friendship with and concern about Africa; on the other hand, he earnestly listens to the opinions and suggestions of African state leaders and shows the positive attitude of China's new legislature toward cooperation with Africa. Chairman Zhang is the first top leader of China's legislature who has set foot in Uganda for the past 51 years after the establishment of diplomatic relations. The second leg of Zhang's Africa visit takes him to Nigeria.

What position does the Sino-African relationship occupy in China's overall diplomatic strategy?

I've noticed that the outside world is showing great interest in Sino-African relations in recent years. There are increasing discussions and media reports on this topic. Many foreign parliamentary delegations also asked about China's attitude and stance on African issues while visiting China. For China, Africa, home to the largest number of developing countries, has always been the basis for China's diplomacy. African countries have long provided important support to China in international political affairs; they are the forces China must rely on in realizing peaceful development. Economically, African countries are China's important partners. It is a long-term fundamental policy of China to unite and cooperate with African countries.

China's new leadership has a clear focus in developing friendship and cooperation with Africa. President Xi positioned Sino-African relationship as "a community of shared destinies" and vividly illustrated China's Africa policy with words like "sincerity," "real results," "affinity" and "good faith." Against the current background of complicated global changes, it is important for China and African countries to strengthen unity and coordination so as to effectively deal with challenges and maintain the interests of developing countries.

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