Delegates from African countries in Beijing on Thursday
attending the seminar, "Supporting Africa's Development: Sharing
Experience to Reduce Poverty," called on China to share its
experience in poverty alleviation.
"China's reforms over the past 25 years have led to stunning
growth and development as well as a dramatic reduction in poverty,"
said Fola Adeola, head of the Commission for Africa, a regional
development organization.
"Africans admire China's success and find its approach to
cooperation with them practical, pragmatic and result-oriented,"
Adeola said.
The commissioner noted African countries can learn a great deal
from China's inspiring approach to development, which acknowledges
the difficulties, appreciates the complexities and offers an
empowering menu of approaches to tackle otherwise overwhelming
challenges. Traditional donor partners tend not to have such
tangible experience.
Cameroonian Ambassador to China Eleih-Elle Etian said that
Africa now struggles with various types of poverty, suffering from
shortages of infrastructure, poor economic structures and
insufficiencies of capital and talented people. He called for
African countries to learn from the experience of China and boost
cooperation in such fields as economics, culture and education.
China has provided economic assistance to nearly 900 projects in
Africa since the 1950s.
Jin Yongjian, president of the United Nations Association of
China, said that as the world's largest developing country, China
considers its relations with Africa extremely important.
Sino-African cooperation, he noted is a vital component of
South-South cooperation.
China will continue to support the African countries' efforts to
strengthen international cooperation to promote their national
economies and reduce poverty, Jin said.
The Commission for Africa was established by British Prime
Minister Tony Blair to take a fresh look at the challenges Africa
faces. It has been given the task of gathering facts, examining
policies and exploring future directions for the region. The
commission is scheduled to conclude its work and submit a report in
spring 2005.
The Chinese Foreign Ministry and the Department of International
Development of the United Kingdom cosponsored the seminar in
Beijing. More than 100 representatives from the Chinese government,
African embassies in China, international organizations and Chinese
businesses attended.
(China.org.cn, Xinhua News Agency September 24, 2004)