Chinese envoy upbeat about future Sino-Africa ties

The mutual bilateral ties between China and African countries will not only experience a makeover in the future, but also translate into tangible and durable benefits, a Chinese envoy has said.

Kuang Weilin, head of Chinese Permanent Mission to the African Union (AU), said Beijing has forged strategic relationship with African states to help modernize their economies, achieve peace and prosperity.

In an interview with Xinhua Thursday on the sidelines of the ongoing AU summit in Addis Ababa, Kuang said China's diplomatic engagement with Africa has been elevated to new levels.

"The decision to set up Chinese Mission to the AU was strategic. It confirmed our crucial role in Africa's development and stability," he remarked.

China opened its permanent mission to the AU headquaters in Addis Ababa last year to strengthen its engagement with the continental body.

Kuang said China has been engaging with AU on a number of issues that dovetail with the future aspirations of African countries and their citizens.

"Our relationship with the AU involves many projects that require massive resources. Projects in industrialization are our priority," Kuang told Xinhua, adding the Chinese mission has established close working relationship with AU leadership.

Chinese President Xi Jinping announced ten major plans that will underpin future Sino-Africa bilateral relations during the Forum on China Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit held in South Africa last December.

During the summit, China also announced to ensure smooth implementation of these plans, which cover industrialization, agricultural modernization, infrastructure, green development, people-to-people exchange, etc.

"FOCAC summit was a great success; it laid the basis for Sino-Africa relations. The goals were clearly set and our cooperation with the continent will be more fruitful," Kuang told Xinhua, noting that implementation of key programs will be hastened in the year to come.

He disclosed that both Chinese and African officials have been holding in-depth discussions focusing on partnerships in areas that would advance peace, stability and development on the continent.

"It is in China's interest to see Africa rise and we have provided what the continent requires most at the moment. The focus is on a win-win cooperation and mutual development," he said, adding that China will fulfill its pledge to assist in the establishment of an African Standby force alongside the Africa Center for Disease Control. Enditem