The 8th senior officials' meeting of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (Focac) held in Hangzhou, China on October 26 was attended by over 240 representatives from China itself, 50 African countries and regional organisations like the African Union, ambassadors of African countries to China, and heads of the member agencies of the Chinese Follow-up Committee.

Mr Christian Faure, second secretary of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, (left) and Ms Marylene Julie of Seychelles Nation, were the Seychelles delegate and press representative at the forum

Ministry of Foreign Affairs’ second secretary Christian Faure represented the government of Seychelles, while Marylene Julie of the National Information Services Agency (Nisa) represented the national newspaper – Seychelles Nation. She was among 25 other press people from various French-speaking African countries.

Opening the forum, Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister Zhai Jun congratulated and extended a warm welcome to the delegates on behalf of the Chinese government. Mr Zhai spoke positively of the tremendous achievements of the forum since its inception. He said that the exemplary role of the forum has encouraged other countries to attach further importance to and increase the input to Africa.

The forum has become a well-known brand for international cooperation with Africa. The Chinese Vice-Foreign Minister also said the world is undergoing a critical period of dramatic changes and adjustments.

Facing such a complex and volatile situation, China and Africa need to strengthen solidity and cooperation and seek for common development for it is in line with the immediate and long-term interests of both sides.

As the forum enters its second decade, the two sides should take this opportunity to further improve the building of forum mechanisms and give a better play to the role of the forum in leading China-Africa co-operation. Vice-Foreign Minister Zhai emphasised that the member countries of the forum should join hands to create a better tomorrow for it.

Assistant Foreign Minister Mona Omar thanked the Chinese sides for the warm hospitality and excellent arrangement for the meeting on behalf of the African side. She considered that despite the adverse impact of the international financial crisis, China and Africa have been working hard to promote the comprehensive cooperation in trade, energy, transportation, health and other areas.

She said this fully reflects the principle and spirit of China-Africa cooperation: equal and mutually beneficial cooperation, pragmatic and efficient cooperation and seeking for common development.

China-Africa relations set a model for south-south cooperation. She thanked China for providing long-term generous help and strong support to Africa, speaking for African countries in international affairs and helping Africa increase the representation and voice in international economic decision-making system.

She reiterated that African countries should seize the important opportunities presented by China's rapid development, enhance cooperation with China in different areas, further develop the partnership featuring equality, mutual benefit, mutual respect and mutual trust and work together with China to create a beautiful future for the friendly cooperation between China and Africa.

Focac is the main framework for consultation and dialogue between China and the African continent where its first ministerial conference was held in Beijing in 2000. The forum is supported by a number of mechanisms mainly holding a ministerial conference every three years, alternately between China and the African countries, stipulated that it be preceded by a senior officials preparatory meeting. Chinese-African relations witnessed steady growth in recent years with an increase in trade volume worth billions in 2010. The African goods exempted from custom duties have increased significantly representing 60% of African exports to China. China has cancelled debts of many African countries from 2000 to 2009. Furthermore, China makes many investments on the African continent in the fields of infrastructure, energy and mining.

A press delegation from 25 French-speaking countries also went to China to cover the forum and had various meetings and interviews with high level Chinese government officials, including with Vice-Foreign Minister Zhai Jun; officials of the Ministry of Commerce; the vice-president of the Bureau of external relations of Zhejiang Province. On the commerce aspect, it was clearly clarified that China produces very high-quality goods but certain merchants choose to buy the inferior one which to them are cheaper.

Various visits were organised for members of the press in Beijing, Hangzhou and Shanghai. It is worth mentioning visits to CCTV television in Beijing. CCTV transmits in various African countries.

Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd, in Shenzhen – a leading global information and technology provider – also welcomed the Africa guests. Apart from its very impressive building and the modern technologies on offer, Huawei ranks second globally as a telecom solution provider and serves 45 per cent of the world’s top 50 telecommunications operators. Airtel forms part of the list of companies using Huawei technologies and expertise.

Leisure visits to the Great Wall of China, the Imperial Palace and the International Commerce Centre of Yiwu and the Oriental Pearl Tower among others were organised.

Among China’s greatest achievements is a very impressive TGV fleet and service and the country produces very high quality goods which are exported to different parts of the world, including Western Europe and the USA.

The trip was a real eye-opener and the delegates experienced the real China – a very developed country which produces almost everything it needs and of a very high quality. The accommodation was of five-star standards and our guide was very professional in organising things on a day-to-day basis.

We say a special thank you to those who organised the trip which was really an eye-opener on the real China, which for me, is the economic giant of the 21st century.

Marylene Julie

Forrás: www.nation.sc