China willing to further strengthen cooperation with Africa in meeting challenges posed by climate change

Chinese Envoy and Deputy Foreign Minister Zhai Jun said on Thursday that most of the developing countries, especially the African countries, are the victims of climate change and China is willing to further strengthen the cooperation with Africa so as to meet the challenges posed by climate change.

In an interview with Xinhua, Zhai Jun, who is here to attend the forthcoming African Union (AU) summit to be held from Sunday to Tuesday, said China and Africa should boost communications and exchanges in meeting the challenges of climate change.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao proposed to establish partnership between China and Africa to beat climate change challenges at the fourth ministerial meeting of the Forum on China-African Cooperation in November 2009 in Egypt and the two sides should kick-start relative mechanisms as soon as possible, the Chinese envoy said.

China and Africa should exchange views on strategies, measures and experiences aimed at meeting the challenges of climate change by mutual visits and consultations, and the two sides should learn from each other, he said.

Zhai Jun maintained that China and Africa should strengthen unity and join hands in safeguarding the interests of the developing countries.

To meet the challenges of climate change should not be at the cost of the development and prolonged poverty of the developing countries, and economic development and poverty reduction are the priorities of the developing countries as well as the foundation and prerequisite for the developing countries to better meet the challenges posed by climate change, the Chinese envoy said.

China and Africa should strengthen unity and uphold the principle of "the common but differentiated responsibility", he said.

The Chinese envoy reiterated that China will continue to provide Africa with aid within its ability to meet the challenges of climate change, and China will provide more aid to Africa including in the sector of beating the challenges posed by climate change.

Zhai Jun said China will conduct pragmatic cooperation with Africa in building infrastructure, realizing sustainable development, exploring renewable energy and capability building.

China will also continue to support Africa's reasonable appeals and urge the developed countries to timely and effectively fulfill their commitment of providing fast-track finance to Africa in the three years to come and to make substantial and effective arrangements of long-term finance target, he said.

Zhai Jun arrived in Addis Ababa, the capital of Ethiopia, on Wednesday. He will take part in the forthcoming AU summit as an observer.

The 14th AU summit will be held under the theme "Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) in Africa: Challenges and prospects for Development".

African heads of state and government will assess the progress the continent has made in ICTs development in the past years and map out strategies for the future development so as to bridge the digital gap with the other regions in the world.

Source:Xinhua