Addis Ababa, 21 January 2016 (WIC) – The Chinese Embassy in Ethiopia denounced allegations concerning its partnership and cooperation with the African countries.
Amb. La Yifan, Ambassador Extraordinary & Plenipotentiary of the People’s Republic of China to the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, told journalists that China’s engagement with African countries is serious and responsible no matter what others say and difficulties there might be including the country’s slowdown in economic growth.
“I am not sure how those people who talk about human rights violation views human rights. In my view creating jobs, creating access to health care and education, and letting the people to get potable water. That is above all what we call respecting human rights,” said the ambassador.
Ambassador La Yifan also said that bringing peace to the region, creating peaceful environment for the people to work and move from place to place without any fear is respecting the very right of the people.
He also emphasized that it is the people not any other group who has to judge whether a country is respecting human rights or not.
China is cooperating with African countries to alleviate poverty and ensure sustainable economic development.
Amb. La Yifan emphasized that China will actively engage in cooperating that ensures sustainable economic development in Africa in its G20 Presidency.
The G20’s African year focuses on bringing lasting peace and stability, broad economic integration and development cooperation, he added.
China won’t monopolize Africa. Rather it needs to make technological transfer to Africa in general and Ethiopia in particular said the Ambassador.
China is the manufacturing hub of the world. It has been heavily engaging in infrastructure development across African continent including roads, railway, and telecom expansion through vender financing. It is also heavily investing in mining sector of the continent.
For instance in 2014, Premier Li unveiled an extra funding package totaling at least USD 12 billion for Africa, extending credit lines by $10 billion and boosting the China-Africa Development Fund by USd2 billion.
The majority of Africa’s exports to China are in oil, it also exports iron ore, metals, and other commodities, as well as a small amount of food and agricultural products. At the same time, China exports a range of machinery and transportation equipment, communications equipment, and electronics to African countries.
In 2009, China surpassed the United States as Africa’s largest trade partner.
According to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce, Sino-African trade reached USD 126.9 billion for 2010 while the trade volume between China and Africa rose 30 percent year-on-year during the first three quarters of 2011, signaling a new record high.