Premier urges protection of Chinese rights
Print Edition
DISPUTES arising over China’s investment projects in Africa are just “growing pains” in a burgeoning relationship that saw their trade top US$200 billion last year, Premier Li Keqiang told African reporters in Beijing ahead of his four-nation tour of the continent yesterday.
He said China was ready to “bring into full play its advantages and actively take part” in Africa’s infrastructure development to promote connectivity.
China will help Africa develop labor-intensive manufacturing, which will create jobs and boost consumption. Li said China will also create new investment and financing means to help Africa address funding shortfalls.
Li said Chinese firms in Africa needed to abide by local laws and regulations as well as take responsibility to protect the interests of local communities.
He said companies had encountered “growing pains” and the Chinese government took such issues seriously.
He said the government was willing to sit down with African countries to resolve any issues that arose between the two sides, but said these were isolated cases.
The premier said that China will never pursue a colonialist path like some countries did, nor allow colonialism.
Li also urged African countries to protect the rights and interests of Chinese companies and the safety of their employees.
In 2009, China overtook the United States as Africa’s biggest trading partner, and more than 2,500 Chinese firms currently operate on the continent.
Chinese enterprises have spent heavily on infrastructure, mining and energy projects in Africa and bilateral trade between China and African countries reached US$210 billion in 2013.
Li and his wife Cheng Hong arrived in Addis Ababa yesterday at the start of their weeklong trip to Ethiopia, Nigeria, Angola and Kenya, the first time the premier has visited Africa since assuming office last year.
Li will visit the African Union headquarters in the Ethiopian capital and deliver a speech on China’s Africa policy. He will also attend the 2014 World Economic Forum on Africa in Nigeria.
“I am looking forward to an in-depth exchange of views on bilateral issues and issues of common concern with Ethiopian and AU leaders, and ready to promote further development of relations and cooperation between China and Ethiopia as well as the larger AU,” the premier said after arriving in Addis Ababa.
Adding an extra layer of significance to Li’s trip, it comes upon the 50th anniversary of late Premier Zhou Enlai’s first visit to Africa.
Respectively as the world’s largest developing country and the continent with the most developing countries, China and Africa are natural partners in pursuing common development. China has been Africa’s largest trading partner for five consecutive years, while Africa has become an important market and investment destination for China.
As an integral part of the China-Africa ties, the relationship between China and Ethiopia has witnessed steady development since the two countries established diplomatic relations in 1970, particularly since they forged a comprehensive cooperative partnership in 2003.
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