May 25 this year is the 57th “Africa Day” for fraternal African people. In the special period of fighting against COVID-19, “Africa Day” is coming, which is of special significance. I would like to extend the deeply congratulations to African brothers. At the same time, this year’s “African day” coincides with Muslim Eid，I wish African Muslim friends the best of the season, EID MUBARAK!
“Africa Day” is a symbol of Africa’s independence. Through arduous struggle, African people have overthrown colonial rule, realized people’s liberation, national freedom and embarked on the path of national political independence. In 1963, the organization of African Unity (now the African Union) was proclaimed and “Africa Day” was born. After more than half a century, the AU has played an active role in safeguarding the sovereignty of African countries, developing national economy, supporting the independence and liberation of African colonies, strengthening the integration and unity of African countries, and safeguarding world peace. “Africa Day” is rooting increasingly in the hearts of African people, who are proud of their independence, freedom, progress and development. The African Union is contributing to Africa’s renaissance.
“Africa Day” is a symbol of Africa’s peace. After making political independence, the African people actively pursue peace and long for the early end of war on the African continent. After decades of efforts, peace has been achieved in the vast majority of African countries, and there is almost no war on the African continent. With the development and change of the international situation, Africa, like other parts of the world, mainly challenges are terrorism, extremism, poverty, food security, climate change and natural disasters. Compared with other continents, 54 African countries are more united. Leaders of all African countries have the political will to resolve and maintain the unity in the relevant disputes and differences. We believe that even the most protracted or complex regional disputes can be resolved through negotiation and dialogue. African people live in harmony and are more eager for stability and development. The people of Africa are working to build a large family of harmony and cooperation.
“Africa Day” is the symbol of Africa’s development. Since the moment of its birth, “Africa Day” indicates the prosperity and development of Africa, and the African Union will promote African integration as its goal. China’s president Xi Jinping pointed out that Africa is beautiful and richly endowed, full of dynamism in development, and its people’s ardent hope for a better future, Africa’s development has great potential, this great continent is full of hope. Indeed, Africa is a continent with full development, its population structure is young, natural resources are rich, the middle class is rising , urbanization is developing rapidly, and the consumption potential of residents is growing significantly. The consumption scale is expected to reach US $2.5 trillion in the future. In 2025, the market value of e-commerce in Africa is expected to reach US $75 billion, and the sales volume of e-commerce can reach US $50 billion to US $75 billion. Africa’s digital trade is expected to grow by 40% annually, reaching US $300 billion in 2025, US $50 billion in global direct investment in Africa and US $12.1 billion in Africa’s foreign investment in 2018. Africa’s infrastructure construction funding gap is as high as $130 billion to $170 billion. The African people have a bright future!
The sudden outbreak of COVID-19 will not stop Africa’s development. The epidemic will be defeated and development will be sustainable. The epidemic has not damaged the foundation for Africa’s renaissance. “Africa Day” tells us that challenges and opportunities coexist on the way forward. The African people bravely meet the challenges and seize the opportunities provided by history. Hard efforts are still needed to realize great ideals. As long as we are united, we will overcome all difficulties. This year’s “Africa Day” will create new opportunities for promoting African unity, deepening regional integration and building a community with a shared future for mankind. It will also provide a strong guarantee for African Unity and cooperation and for the ultimate victory in the fight against the epidemic.
China and Africa enjoy a long friendship. China will always be a good friend, partner and brother of Africa. China-Africa friendship has stood the test of history and changes of international situation. At that time, the Chinese people gave great support to the national independence and liberation movement of African countries, today, the Chinese government and people strongly support Africa’s revitalization and development.
China has always followed the principle of sincerity, real results, amity and good faith and the principle of pursuing the greater good and shared interests put forward by President Xi Jinping, adheres to the common development and mutual benefit and win-win, and benefits the people of China and Africa; adhere to intensive development and strive to enhance the “making blood” function of African economies, with the aim of economic and social benefits of projects; adhere to the green development and carry out mutually beneficial cooperation, while actively developing ecological civilization in African countries; adhere to safe development and increase constructive participation in African and security affairs; adhere to open development and work with the international community to support the cause of peaceful development in Africa in an open and inclusive manner.
China has always followed the principle of “respecting Africa, loving Africa and supporting Africa” and actively promoted Africa’s independent and sustainable development. China has long helped Africa find three development bottlenecks, including insufficient infrastructure, credit and technical work. Under the guidance of the government, with enterprises as the main body and market operation, China has helped Africa to solve the above development bottlenecks, accelerate Africa’s industrialization and agricultural modernization, and achieve sustainable development. China has not only provided tens of billions of dollars for Africa’s infrastructure development, but also encouraged local entrepreneurship. According to a survey of employment in Chinese funded projects, more than three-quarters of the workers are from local in Africa, nearly 90% of employees of Chinese companies are Africans, creating millions of jobs, 90% of Chinese employers provide various skills training and actively transfer technology to Africa.
Chinese people have been with African people in pursuing a shared future. Since the spread of COVID-19, China has actively sent a tremendous amount of medical supplies and assistance to over 50 African countries and the African Union, and vigorously supported the fight against the epidemic in Africa. At the 73rd of WHA just concluded, President Xi Jinping called on helping developing countries, especially African countries with weaker public health systems, helping them build capacity must be our top priority in COVID-19 response, and the world needs to provide more material, technological personnel support for African countries. President Xi Jinping announced that China will provide US $2 billion over two years to help with COVID-19 response and with economic and social development in affected countries, especially developing countries. China will establish a cooperation mechanism for its hospitals to pair up with 30 African hospitals and accelerate the building of the Africa CDC headquarters to help the continent ramp up its disease preparedness and control capacity. China is also ready to work with the international community to bolster support for the hardest-hit countries under the greatest strain. Over the past 50 years, China has sent 21000 medical team members to 48 African countries. At present, there are 46 medical teams in 45 African countries. China has also helped Africa build more than 100 hospitals, anti malaria centers and other medical and health facilities, and trained more than 80000 Africa medical and health workers. At present, the members of the Chinese medical team and the local African people are fighting together in the front line of anti epidemic.
By Qin Jian, Chinese Ambassador to Somalia
