Following on from the sweeping pledges it made at the Sino-African Forum, 2007 will see China sign
debt relief agreements with 33 African countries, the Ministry of
Commerce (MOC) said in Beijing Monday.
The move came a day ahead of President Hu Jintao's departure for an African tour which
will see him visit Cameroon, Liberia, Sudan, Zambia, Namibia, South
Africa, Mozambique and the Seychelles.
The ministry did not disclose the total value of the loans,
which matured at the end of 2005, to be written off. The nations
concerned are all either heavily indebted or stand among the
world's least developed nations, it said.
According to the ministry, China plans to double the amount of
free aid and interest-free loans it provides to African countries
over the next three years to assist with social, cultural and
public welfare projects.
Preferential loans worth US$3 billion will help African
countries develop infrastructure, purchase technological equipment
and establish production enterprises.
A 50,000-square-meter international convention center, set to be
completed by 2010, will be constructed free of charge for the use
of the African Union.
China will further boost cooperation with African countries in
human resources, agriculture, medical care, social development and
education over the next three years.
General or special hospitals with 100 to 150 beds will be built
for countries that have poor medical facilities and anti-malarial
medicines will be provided to 33 countries.
In a bid to increase cultural exchanges, China will dispatch
three hundred young volunteers w to English-speaking countries like
Ethiopia and Zimbabwe and French-speaking countries over the next
three years.
China also plans to lift the level of education in African
nations by building a total of 100 primary schools before 2009,
each of which will be able to accommodate 300 pupils.
The country has invested in 800 aid projects in Africa over the
past 50 years, including 137 agricultural projects and 133
infrastructure projects, according to MOC statistics.
People across 43 African countries have been treated by medical
teams comprising up to 16,000 Chinese personnel. In the past three
years alone, China has trained more than 30,000 Africans.
"The aid was offered sincerely and selflessly to meet the needs
of African countries. There were no political strings attached nor
interference in internal affairs," said an official with the
MOC.
The MOC said China also encourages Chinese companies, both
private and state-owned, to work in Africa on industrial projects
such as house construction, petrochemicals, electric power,
transportation and telecommunications.
Last year, the turnover of Chinese enterprises in these areas
amounted to US$9.5 billion, helping raise local employment, said
the MOC.
Trade between China and Africa rose 40 percent to a record
US$55.5 billion in 2006. China's exports to Africa increased 43
percent to US$26.7 billion, while imports were up 37 percent to
US$28.8 billion.
To expand African imports, China has waived tariffs on 190 goods
produced in 28 of the least developed African countries.
China's direct investment across 49 African countries reached
US$6.64 billion last year.
(Xinhua News Agency January 30, 2007)
