China, Africa are reliable friends

China and Africa have been very good examples for South-South cooperation in international relations by creating an atmosphere of mutual understanding, mutual respect, and mutual support. Since the beginning of the new century, Sino-African high-level exchanges and cooperation in terms of international affairs have been further strengthened and the political consultation mechanism has been increasingly diversified. China has established diplomatic bilateral dialogue mechanisms with some African countries. In 2000, it launched "China-Africa Cooperation Forum" which built up a multinational dialogue mechanism between China and African countries and injected new vitality to Sino-African relations.

"China needs Africa" is not a sentence out of courtesy, but something real. After the Cold War, Africa has been seeing a downward trend in its geopolitical position in the world. However, its status and functions in China's diplomatic strategy have not changed. Although many African countries are vulnerable, they own a large population and have similar national conditions and positions with China. In regard to multilateral diplomacy, the popular support is extremely essential. China needs the support of African countries. In fact, China has won strong support of African countries in regard to the issues of Taiwan, Tibet, human rights, WTO accession, Olympic Games bidding, World Expo application, as well as the reform of the United Nations. Africa has always been playing an important role in the Chinese diplomatic activities. Fifty-three African countries, in particular 47 of them who have established formal diplomatic relations with China, have helped China expand its activity space in the international arena. Both History and reality have proved that African countries are China's faithful friends. The development of Sino-African relations is of extremely important strategic significance in enhancing China's international influence and consolidating China's diplomatic position.

In the face of economic globalization and complex and ever-changing international political situation, African countries also attach importance to the status and roles of some big countries such as China in order to extricate themselves from "poverty" and "marginalization" risks. Hence they anticipate winning China's sympathy and support.

As a permanent member of the UN Security Council, China has always sided with African countries to support their legitimate demands and reasonable propositions. In recent years, China further strengthened political mutual trust and cooperation with them. On major international issues, China has actively responded to the appeal of African countries by demanding the United Nations to pay more attention to the development issues, suggesting that the UN Security Council should give priority to increasing the representation of Africa, and, supporting Africa's advocacy on multilateralism. In regard to regional affairs, China strongly supported the joint efforts of African countries to address and settle the problems of Africa by themselves and actively participated in the UN peacekeeping operations in Africa and the negotiations of the United Nations on African affairs.

Since 1990, China has sent a total of 3,000 person-times of peacekeepers to the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), Liberia and other African countries on the implementation of United Nations peacekeeping missions. To help African countries to carry out the "New Partnership for Africa's Development (NEPAD)", China tried its best to increase its non-financial assistance and enforced debt relief for African countries. It helped African countries resolve the practical difficulties in terms of the opening of the market, staff training, disease prevention and environmental protection.

Both China and African countries pursue peaceful development. Both of them are staunch forces in safeguarding the world peace and stability. Currently China and African countries are right in a positive, pragmatic and multi-channel cooperation in international affairs. In January this year the Chinese government issued China's African Policy, a comprehensive plan to map out the direction and focuses of the friendly cooperative development between China and African countries in the new era and indicates that China is willing to establish and develop with Africa a new strategic partnership with political equality and mutual trust.

This new strategic partnership is in line with the requirements of peace and development in the new era and is conforming to the fundamental interests of the Chinese and African people. It will be of great help to building a balanced, stable and harmonious international order. It is believed that Chinese President Hu Jintao's visit to Africa and the first China-African summit to be held in Beijing in fall will further strengthen the friendly and cooperative relations between the two sides.

By People's Daily Online; The author Zhang Hongming is deputy director of the Institute of West Asian and African Studies under the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences