Brian Benza
6 November 2009
interview
The 4th Ministerial Conference of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) will be convened next week in Sharm El Sheikh, Egypt. President Hosni Mubarak of Egypt, some African heads of state, Premier Wen Jiabao of China, the Chairman of the AU Commission and the UN Secretary-General will attend the opening ceremony of the conference. Two ministers of the FOCAC member states will be invited to the conference. Mmegi staff writer BRIAN BENZA this week interviewed the Chinese Ambassador to Botswana, Liu Huanxing, about the Forum, its objectives and benefits to both parties.
In short, would you tell me about FOCAC?
FOCAC is a mechanism of collective dialogue and practical cooperation between China and African countries which is pioneering in the history of China-Africa relations. In October 2000, in order to cope with the changes in the international situation after the Cold War and meet the challenge of economic globalisation, China and friendly countries in Africa jointly initiated FOCAC in Beijing. According to the forum mechanism, the Ministerial Conference should be convened once every three years alternately in China and African countries.
Ministers of Foreign Affairs and Ministers responsible for international cooperation and/or financial and economic affairs of China and African countries shall attend the conference. The main objectives of the Ministerial Conferences are to review the implementation of follow-up actions of the former conference, and to formulate a blueprint for China-Africa cooperation in the next three years. The Senior Officials Meeting (SOMs) shall be convened one year ahead of the Ministerial Conference. Since 2000, three Ministerial Conferences have been convened and in 2006, a Summit was held as a special case.
What is the objective of the Egypt summit?
The objective of the conference is to review the implementation of the follow-up actions of the FOCAC Beijing Summit and the Third Ministerial Conference that was held in 2006 and to formulate a blueprint for China-Africa cooperation in the next three years. The two sides will discuss and exchange ideas under the theme of deepening the New Type of China-Africa Strategic Partnership and promoting sustainable development.Two documents, the FOCAC Sharm El Sheikh Declaration and the FOCAC Sharm El Sheikh Action Plan (2010-2012) will be adopted at the conference. The Declaration will be closely in line with the spirit of the Beijing Summit, reflecting the views and consensus of China and Africa on major international and African issues and China-Africa relations, and expressing their common desire to enhance cooperation and assist Africa in achieving the MDGs.
I know in 2006, President Hu Jintao offered Africa $5 billion in loans and credits. Do you expect any further facilities to be extended by China?
The Chinese side will continually introduce new cooperation initiatives for the future development of China-Africa relations and mutually beneficial cooperation between the two. China will discuss with African countries about how to intensify cooperation in the fields of agriculture and infrastructure construction to jointly cope with the international financial crisis. This conference is of great importance for the further enhancement of bilateral relations and cooperation in various areas between China and Africa under the new situation.
During the conference, the Third Conference of Chinese and African Entrepreneurs will be held with around 700 participants, among them half are Chinese entrepreneurs while the other half are African entrepreneurs. Dialogues between Chinese and African entrepreneurs are conducive to promoting economic ties and trade cooperation between the two sides.
What would you say were some of the achievements from the 2006 summit?
The follow-up actions of the FOCAC Beijing Summit which was successfully held in 2006 have gained great achievements. Leaders of China and African countries unanimously agreed to establish a new type of strategic partnership featuring political equality and mutual trust, economic win-win cooperation and cultural exchanges. The Chinese government announced eight policy measures to strengthen cooperation with Africa and promote common development.Chinese President Hu Jintao visited African countries at the beginning of 2007 and 2009 to personally promote the fulfilment of the follow-up actions of the Beijing Summit. China and Africa now enjoy more close political exchanges, practical cooperation and strengthened support and coordination in international affairs.
The trade volume between China and Africa continues to make rapid growth. In 2008, the volume of China-Africa trade exceeded US$100 billion for the first time. Cooperation in cultural, sports, financial, aviation and tourism fields between the two have attained new achievements. Great progress has been made in the fulfilment of the eight policy measures of the FOCAC Beijing Summit.China provides substantially increased assistance to African countries. It gives zero-tax treatment for goods imported from the least-developed African countries and exempts debts arising from government interest-free loans owed by heavily-indebted poor and least developed African countries. The China-Africa Development Fund was officially launched in 2007 and is under smooth operation. The African Union Conference Centre assisted by the Chinese Government and the economic and trade cooperation zones in some African countries are now under construction. China has trained more than 13,307 various personnel for African countries. Construction of hospitals, anti-malaria centres and rural schools are also promoted.
What about China and Botswana in particular?
I think China and Botswana enjoy a friendly and cooperative relationship since the establishment of diplomatic relations in 1975. Former President Festus Mogae of Botswana together with other 47 African leaders attended the Beijing Summit of FOCAC in 2006. During the past three years, the two countries have been further expanding cooperation in economic, trade, cultural, educational and human development areas. The trade volume between China and Botswana in 2007 reached more than US$145 million with growth of 107 percent compared to the previous year. While in 2008, the trade volume further increased to US$360 million, with Botswana enjoying a trade surplus. The Chinese government has been providing scholarships to Botswana students since 1984. In 2006, the number of scholarships increased to 12, in 2007 to 21, in 2008 to 22 while in 2009 the number was further increased to 27.
The two rural primary schools in Serowe and Maun sponsored by the Chinese government have already been handed over to the Botswana government in September 2009. The Chinese Class of Confucius Institute at UB was officially launched on September 10 and provides conditions for students and people of Botswana to study the Chinese language.
To support human resources development in Botswana, China also offers more than 100 short-term training opportunities to Batswana each year, covering areas of business and commerce, information, agriculture, industry, sport and military training. This year, three Chinese agricultural experts came to work in Botswana for one year with the aid of the Chinese government. Chinese volunteers will arrive in early November for a one-year service.
What do you say to the view that China is on the verge of colonising Africa just like Western countries did in the past?
Those views can only be held by those who see China's involvement in Africa as an invasion of what they believe belongs to them. There is a small group of people who cannot accept China's growth and consider the rapid development of China-Africa cooperation as a violation of their "sphere of influence" and interests. Actually, the friendly cooperation between China and Africa has a solid foundation and is an important component of South-South cooperation. China is willing to strengthen friendly cooperation with African countries, not for the purpose of establishing "spheres of influence" in Africa, but to achieve mutual benefit and common development with Africa through advantage complementarities. As part of international development cooperation, China-Africa cooperation is not closed or exclusive, but open and inclusive. It has no intention of being directed against a third party, nor will it affect the cooperation of China or Africa with third parties.
China is increasingly becoming a target of anti-dumping measures as trade begins to recover along with the global economy.Is China dumping goods in Africa and other parts of the world?
Every year, we export more than a trillion dollars worth of products to many countries, including the United States. The reason they are launching these anti-dumping measures is that their companies cannot compete with Chinese companies.They come with these standards after looking at our lower labour and material costs. I don't agree that we produce low quality products.
But is it not a fact that most Chinese products sold in the shops today are not very durable?
Yes, some of them might be of a lesser quality, but you should also look at the prices these products are being sold for. It is all about competitiveness.
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The world has reached 2009, so move along with it. All Africa is independent but if some of its leaders have their heads screwed backwards and screw up their countries, it is no one but themselves to blame. In most parts of Africa, no matter what assistance and cooperation China or anyone else gives, no progress will be achieved because the leaders are too busy killing and grappling for power of dominance and paying no attention to the proper running and utilizing of whatever assistance has been given to them for the betterment of their countries. You just have to look at the terrible huge numbers of refugees that these leaders are producing. Mugabe alone is credited of producing the largest number of refugees in Southern Africa with millions in South Africa and great numbers too in Botswana. So all these forums and summits that are held from time to me are a shear waste of time as nothing good ever trickles down to the ordinary people.
THE ROBBERS OF OUR PEOPLE ARE FULFILLING PROPHECY
1) [Daniel 11:14 ]
And in those times :
a) there shall many stand up against the king of the south(AMERICA / BABYLON ):
b) ALSO the ROBBERS OF OUR PEOPLE shall exalt themselves to establish the vision; BUT THEY SHALL FALL !
2) Check Out FRITZ SPRINGMEIER’S ( A Bold Christian Truthseeker)
Expose` :
The Top 13 Illuminati Bloodlines
[ http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k73Q2_f4vKU ]
THESE FAMILIES LIVE UNDER THE SIGN OF $$$$$$$$$$$$$ !!!
3) 16 European Nations . Met And Plotted On How They Would Rob Africa Of Its Riches.
* They met during two(2) Periods of time in two(2) places
* The General Act Of Berlin Conference (Nov, 1884 to February, 1885)
* Brussels Belgium to finalize SECRET agreements ( Nov, 1889 to July 1890)
* The Book “King Leopold’s Ghost (1998) by Adam Hochschild documents some of This information.
The following Nations (Households) - Planned how they would divide among themselves our AFRICAN Riches.
1) Austria-Hungary - Francis Joseph I Charles - August 18, 1830 -
2) Belgium - King Leopold II – April 9, 1835
3) Denmark - Frederik VIII -June 3, 1843
4) France - Marie François Sadi Carnot – August 11, 1837 -
5) Germany - Wilhelm II -– January 27, 1859
6) Great Britain - Queen Victoria (Hanover) – May 24, 1819 – British Ruler – 2nd
7) Holland –William III – February 19, 1817
8) Italy - Umberto I - March 14, 1844 -
9) Norway - Oscar II [Oscar Frederik] – January 21, 1829 (Also Sweden)
10) Portugal - Carlos I – September 28, 1863
11) Russia - Alexander III Alexandrovich – March 10, 1845
12) Spain - Alfonso XIII – May 17, 1886
13) Sweden - Oscar II – January 21, 1829 (Also Norway)
14) Turkey - Abdülhamid II, - September 2 or September 22 - 1842 -
15) United States - Benjamin Harrison – August 20, 1833 -
16) Persia (Iran) - Nasser al-Din Shah Qajar – July 16, 1831 –
Just as Gangsters sell their debt, so have the old list of ROBERS changed over Time.
Pray People. Trust In God..Not Your So-Called Leaders. Pray For Those Leaders Too.
They Are Constantly Being Tempted To Think About Their Personal Satisfactions ;
Rather Than The Future Of Their Nation. The Greatest Is Servant Of All !!!!!!!
WAKE UP !!! STAY UP !!!
[ libradio.net]
[ gcnlive.com ] - Life Is a Game. Have Fun. [ Luke 18:17 / Isaiah 11:6 ]