Boosted by successful cooperation with Africa in the framework of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC), China is now seeking to further its cultural exchanges to foster a better comprehension between African and Chinese peoples.
“Following the latest Forum of Sharm el-Sheik in Egypt, the Chinese government seems eager to prioritize the strengthening of cultural exchanges and the training of human resources with Africa to wipe out the misunderstandings noted between the African and Chinese peoples, a cultural adviser at the Chinese embassy in Dakar told APA.
The remoteness of China from Africa does not favor a real mix of both peoples, according to She Mingyuan who reaffirmed his country’s will to strengthen the cultural ties with the continent to better remove the divisive stereotypes attributed to Beijing.
Many Africans believe the presence of Chinese nationals in the continent means anything but marketing counterfeit.
Diplomatic sources reveal that since 2006, China has been assisting Africa in the framework of 900 programs, with half of them on the healthcare area for the local population. The country has also helped in training more than 30,000 people and sent 350,000 technicians and 17,000 health officials to Africa.
China seeks now to boost its cooperation with Africa which matches with the economic and social development of Africans, the Chinese diplomat says, recalling the pledges made by the Chinese Premier, Wen Jiabao, at the fourth FOCAC ministerial conference in Sharm el Sheikh, in Egypt.
Jiabao had announced a pledge of $10 billion of new low-interest loans to Africa during the next three years.
The Chinese Premier had also announced eight new measures to be taken from 2010 to 2012 to boost the China-African cooperation and the implementation of a $1 billion fund to the benefit of African Small and Medium Entreprises (SMEs).
The conference had further adopted the “Sharm el-Sheikh Declaration” and the “three-year action plan of Sharm el-Sheikh (2010-2012)” that both outline the new action aimed at boosting China-Africa cooperation.
The “Sharm el-Sheikh Declaration” focuses on the effort Beijing has to achieve to increase the volume of aid dedicated to Africa, as well as the reduction or cancellation of the debt owed to it by African countries.
Meanwhile, under the “three-year Sharm el-Sheikh action plan (2010-2012)”, Africa and China agreed to give free rein to the dialogue and communication mechanisms in a bid to further a new form of strategic partnership.
Consistent with the conference’s recommendations, this policy shall be built through strategic dialogue, consultations, strengthened political relations between the foreign Ministries and the joint commissions for economic and trade cooperation.
Source African Press Agency
