The head of the Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the African Union, Ambassador Liu Yuxi said that China-Africa exchange and cooperation have enjoyed fast-paced development since the Beijing Summit.
During a seminar held at Skylight Hotel in Addis Ababa, Ambassador Liu Yuxi said that twenty Chinese leaders have visited 29 African countries and the African Union Commission (AUC) by August 2019.
Joint construction of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are making solid progress, and 44 African countries and the AUC have signed BRI cooperation agreements with China.
The implementation of the eight major initiatives has had a good start as the two sides make country-specific implementation plans based on their own strengths and practical needs. Over 880 cooperation projects are set to be implemented in the following three years.
The trade volume between China and Africa exceeded $200 billion in 2018, making China Africa’s biggest trading partner for the tenth consecutive year.
China-Africa cooperation for common win is pressing head vigorously. China will persevere in the original aspiration of China-Africa cooperation and work with the African side to implement the outcomes of the FOCAC Beijing Summit to build a closer community of shared future. We will strengthen consultations and cooperation in international and regional affairs, and step up efforts to align development strategies so that the practical achievements will benefit more people for a bright future of China-Africa cooperation.
Ambassador Liu Yuxi has extended his wishes to Ethiopians a happy New Year.
Chairman of the Board of Trustees of the Centre for Dialogue Research and Cooperation, Ambassador Seyoum Mesfin, on his part said that Africa has benefitted immensely from the FOCAC and (Belt and Road Initiatives) BRI frameworks.
Several African countries including my own country Ethiopia have witnessed great transformations in their infrastructure, industrialization, agricultural modernization, research and innovation facilities and job creation. Industrial parks, intra- and inter-state transport connectivity, power generation and integrated agro-processing units have mushroomed across the continent, he added.
Over the last two decades, China has introduced helpful approaches in economic and development domains in the form of the (Forum on China-Africa Cooperation) FOCAC and the Belt and Road Initiative, both immensely beneficial to Africa.
This year, 228 Ethiopians are admitted to long-term degree programs, including 66 PhD and 162 master degrees, accounting for 16.52 percent of the total scholarships China offers across the world.
In addition, the Chinese government has invited over 800 Ethiopians to participate in 200 short-term seminars, training courses and workshops, and offered scholarships to about 400 Ethiopians, including government officials for longer-term bachelor's, master's and doctorate degree programs.
The seminar which was jointly organized by The Mission of the People’s Republic of China to the African Union and The Centre for Dialogue, Research and Cooperation (CDRC), was held under the theme, “Sustaining Traditional Friendship: Achievements and Prospects of China-Africa Cooperation”.