By Ebi Kesiena
China has promised to help African countries overcome the shock of the Covid-19 pandemic and the effects of global warming, while refraining from imposing its will on Africa.
Chinese Foreign Affairs Minister, Wang Yi made this promise on Wednesday during a China-Africa Cooperation Forum.
“Vaccination is progressing in the world, but Africa suffers from an immunity gap with an immunisation rate below 5th of the world average, this is an extremely unfair and unreasonable situation, which we must immediately put an end to,” he said.
African leaders however challenged the Chinese Government for a more balanced trade and beneficial business relationship with Africans to improve on the African economy.
Aissata Tall Sall, Minister of Foreign Affairs of Senegal, stated that the cooperation between China and Africa is a dynamic cooperation wanted and accepted by all our States and shared by our respective people.
“The second thing this means is that we, the African and Chinese governments, are aware of our responsibility, FOCAC being our common asset, to persevere, to continue to deepen, to widen this cooperation,” he said.
Recall that China has faced criticism for using debts owed them by African states, particularly to finance major infrastructure, to increase its influence over countries unable to meet their commitments. It is also criticized for its social and environmental practices.
