Lago – Amb. Lin Songtian, Director-General of African
Affairs at the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Beijing, on Monday, restated his
government’s commitment to support the development of African countries in
the next three years.
Lin told the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos that the Chinese
government would in the next three years follow-up on the outcome of
the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) Summit.
‘’Let me reassure African countries, including Nigeria, that the ten
areas of cooperation announced by President Xi Jinping at the Summit
would be completed within the next three years.
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‘’Whenever the Chinese government makes any promise, we always ensure
that such promises or development projects are executed,’’ he said.
Lin, also the Secretary General of the Follow-Up Committee on FOAC,
said that the Chinese government would, within the period, support
African countries in industrialisation, agricultural modernisation and
infrastructure development.
He also listed other areas of cooperation to include financial, green
development, trade and investment facilitation, poverty reduction,
public health, cultural and people-to-people interaction, as well as
peace and security plans.
The Chinese official said that the move was to make African countries
self-dependent, as well as fast-track their overall development.
Lin said that the Chinese government had already set aside ‘’huge’’
sums of money toward realisation of these set areas of cooperation
within the period.
‘’We earnestly want African countries to develop because we regard
African countries as our brothers and partners in progress.
‘We are committed to promoting our win-win-cooperation with our dear
African countries and friends.
‘’We want to see these countries develop in all areas, so that they
also become self-dependent,’’ he added. (NAN)